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DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES 



CONSISTING OF 



REFLECTIONS AND PRAYERS, 



FOR THE USE OF 



YOUNG PERSONS. 



TO WHICH IS ADDED 



A GUIDE TO THE STUDY OF THE SCRIPTURES. 



BY HARRIET MARTINEAU. 



jFtom tfce tjnrft JLotitroti fStrttfon, 



BOSTON: 
LEONARD C. BOWLES 



1833 






STEREOTYPED AT THE 
BOSTON TYPE AND STEREOTYPE FOUNDERY. 



ADVERTISEMENT 

TO THE AMERICAN EDITION. 



Few books are more needed, yet few are more 
difficult of composition, than such as exhibit the 
devotional sentiment in its various exercises of 
faith, gratitude, penitence, confidence, love, and 
hope. The feelings through which the soul 
converses with God, may lose their simplicity 
and fervor when spread out on the written page. 
This common fault has been avoided in the 
Reflections and Prayers contained in this little 
volume. It has also the singular merit of pre- 
senting religious thoughts, in which the young 
may discover not only truth and propriety, but 
a sympathy with their own views of life, and 
with the experience of that season when the 
heart " is glad in the Lord." The " Guide to 
the Study of the Scriptures," contains many 
valuable remarks, though, in one or two instances, 
the writer may be thought to have expressed 
herself incautiously. 

boston, December 1, 1833. 



PREFACE 



TO THE THIRD EDITION. 



In the Preface to the first edition of this work, dated 
1823, the following words occur : — " Being yet young, 
I have a vivid remembrance of the ideas and feelings 
on devotional subjects, which, in early youth, I found 
to be the most impressive, and to excite the most pow- 
erful emotions, and which are by no means the same 
ideas and feelings which produce these effects at a 
more advanced age. Possessing these remembrances, 
I must believe that the young are best fitted to write 
for the young, in most cases where the feelings and 
affections are concerned ; and therefore I have written 
down the thoughts which used to present themselves 
m a natural train of reflection, and the prayers which 
I have been accustomed to form, under the guidance 
of able teachers, for my own use." 

After the lapse of nine years, I find myself no longer 
in the number of those "best fitted to write for the 
young" on the subjects of this volume. I find that I 
have lost much of my interest in the ideas and feel- 
ings which were penned, nine years ago, with fervency 
and truth. Coupling this fact with that of the favorable 
reception of this work among the class for whom it is 



t) PREFACE. 

intended, I am convinced that my youthful opinion had 
so much of soundness in it as to render it unadvisable 
that the Reflections and Prayers should be altered to 
suit my present views and feelings. I have not dared to 
improve their value as compositions, at the risk of im- 
pairing their congeniality with youthful emotions of 
piety. A few verbal corrections, and the occasional 
omission o f a few lines, are the only improvements I 
have introduced into the Exercises. 

The Essay at the end is new, being designed to re- 
place with advantage the Treatise contained in the 
former editions ; which Treatise I could not re-issue 
with satisfaction to myself, or, as I now think, with ad- 
vantage to my readers. I can only hope that the pos- 
sessors of the third edition will not think themselves 
losers by the exchange. 

It will be evident to many, that, in sending forth 
again this my first work, I can have no other satisfac- 
tion in view than that of obeying the call of the pub- 
lic, whose word I am ready to take respecting the use- 
fulness of the book. To render my acquiescence 
complete, it is necessary to place my name in the 
title-page. This I have resolved upon with the hope 
that my old readers will excuse me for not having 
done it before, and that my new readers will under- 
stand why I do it now. 

H. M. 

J>3orwich, August, 1832. 



SUBJECTS OF THE REFLECTIONS. 



Page. 

Sunday Morning. . . . On the duties of the Lord's 

Day 9 

Sunday Evening.. ... On habitual devotion 16 

Monday Morning . . . On benevolence 24 

Monday Evening . . . On the character of the 

Apostles Peter , John, and Paul 32 

Tuesday Morning.. On the government of the 

temper 38 

Tuesday Evening.. . On death 44 

Wednesday Morning. On humility 52 

Wednesday Evening. On self-government 58 

Thursday Morning. On the goodness of God. . . . 66 

Thursday Evening. On charitable judgments of 

others 73 

Friday Morning.. .. Love and reverential obedi- 
ence due to Jesus Christ 81 

Friday Evening On the happiness of a future 

state 87 

Saturday Morning, On the uncertainty of 

worldly enjoyments 95 

Saturday Evening.. On the value of time..*... 101 



REFLECTION. 

SUNDAY MORNING. 

" A day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a 
door-keeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents 
of wickedness." Psalm Ixxxiv. 10. 

" And, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sab- 
bath day." Luke iv. 16. 

For what purpose was the Sabbath instituted ? 
Why was one day in seven set apart, as it were, 
from the world ? and why do we quit our usual 
employments on that day, and repair to the house 
of God ? Because it is the Lord's day. All 
days ought to be devoted to the Lord ; but on 
this I am especially called to give him praise, 
and to dedicate myself to his service. I well 
know that when I am employed in any interest- 
ing pursuit, or when I enjoy the recurrence of 
any favorite pleasures, they are apt to engross my 
thoughts, and to call off my attention from other 
pursuits or pleasures which do not so frequently 
present themselves to my mind. How much, 
then, must I be in danger of fixing my affections 
on the world and its affairs, if all my time be giv- 
en up to them ! God knows this, and has wisely 



10 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

and benevolently appointed a season when I may 
seek after pleasures which will never fade, in- 
stead of the transient enjoyments of merely mor- 
tal life. 

If this day is set apart for the worship of God, 
and for my own religious improvement, what 
should be my dispositions, and what my con- 
duct? I should be grateful for such opportuni- 
ties of advancement in the most valuable species 
of knowledge ; I should remember with joy the 
numberless instances of God's bounty which it 
has been my lot to experience ; and this remem- 
brance should incite me to worship him in spirit 
and in truth, to offer him the homage of the 
heart. I must begin by thanking him for per- 
mitting me again to witness the return of this pe- 
riod of sacred rest : I must employ . the leisure 
afforded by it in studying his word, both as con- 
tained in the Bible and in those books which ex- 
emplify its doctrines, and will assist in impressing 
them on my mind. I must be especially careful 
not to read the words of truth in a negligent 
manner ; but must diligently prepare my mind 
for dwelling on them with advantage, by exclud- 
ing vain thoughts, by previous meditation, and by 
the remembrance of the infinite importance and 
great solemnity of the truths which I seek to im- 
press upon my heart. I must " search the scrip- 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 11 

tures," as in thern are found the words of eter- 
nal life ; and let me, in humility and singleness 
of heart, receive the precepts, and rejoice in the 
promises, delivered through Jesus Christ, and not 
read them as a task appointed for the day ; by 
which the employment will be rendered worse 
than useless. 

A part of my time should also be devoted, if 
possible, to imparting to others, who have not en- 
joyed the same advantages as myself, that knowl- 
edge which may make them "wise unto salva- 
tion ;" for surely no leisure can be more usefully 
spent than in revealing to the poor and ignorant the 
light of heavenly truth, and in making them hail 
the return of the Lord's day with the same pleas- 
ure which I experience. " To the poor the gos- 
pel is preached ;" and to them it is, if possible, 
more important than to myself, that the Sunday 
should be distinguished by the acquisition of re- 
ligious knowledge, and the impression of reli- 
gious truth. On this day, more especially, are 
we reminded that all mankind are the children 
of a common Father, all created for the same 
purpose, all tending to the same end, all heirs of 
the same immortality. On this day should all 
the lesser circumstances of life be forgotten, in 
comparison with those in which all have a com- 
mon interest ; and on this day, therefore, should 



12 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

we assist one another in the pursuit of what is 
most valuable, as we also would ourselves be as- 
sisted. Let it be my care, then, by the benevo- 
lence of my conduct, and the cheerfulness of 
my temper, to render this period of rest a day of 
happiness to others as well as myself. 

While engaged in the public worship of God, 
may no vain and trifling thoughts intrude on the 
solemn repose of my soul. May no unworthy 
meditations usurp the place of those which are 
my duty, and should be my delight, in his holy 
place. Let me join with a pure heart and fer- 
vent spirit in prayer ; and let the words of wis- 
dom, which are addressed to me as well as to 
others, sink deep into my heart, and work in me 
the peaceable fruits of righteousness ! Of all 
the duties which are this day incumbent on me, 
one of the most difficult, and one of the most im- 
portant, is to exclude unworthy thoughts. But 
surely there is time enough in the six days allotted to 
worldly employments, for all worldly meditations ; 
and how much is it to be lamented, that the short 
portion which should be devoted to the repose of 
the mind from all turbulent cares, should be ren- 
dered yet shorter by the want of self-control ! 
Did I properly estimate the pleasures of devotion,, 
no such difficulty would present itself to me. 
Did I feel love, joy, and peace in believing, no 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 13 

subjects of less delight would occupy my mind. 
Let me, therefore, endeavor to impress myself so 
deeply and frequently, on this day, and every oth- 
er, with a conviction of the boundless power and 
goodness of God, and of the incomparable value 
of religion, that feelings of reverence and love 
towards my heavenly Father may be not only 
warm, but continued and permanent. May eve- 
ry thought, word, and action, throughout this 
day, conduce to this end ; and then indeed it 
will be blessed to me. 

For many days my thoughts have been chiefly 
occupied with those worldly pursuits which de- 
mand a large share of my attention : let me 
spend this day in meditating on the " vast con- 
cerns of an eternal world ;" in studying the ex- 
ample and precepts of Jesus, and in endeavor- 
ing to make God my friend, by subduing every 
inclination which can lead me to disobey him. 
Let me worship in his courts with an humble and 
thankful heart; and strengthen those principles, 
and confirm those feelings, which sLall urge me 
forward in the way of peace anr! holiness. Let 
me now begin the duties of the Lord's day, by 
asking God to assist me in every good purpose. 
2 



14 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

PRAYER. 

SUNDAY MORNING, y 

O thou, the eternal and unchangeable God ! 
whose wisdom, power, and goodness, are infinite, 
deign to accept the humble praises of a grateful 
heart, the adoration of a soul which comprehend- 
eth not thy greatness: Thou hast created the 
heavens and the earth, and the mighty sun which 
giveth light upon the earth; the moon and 
stars are also thine. All these things show thy 
power and goodness : but they shall all perish, 
and be no more, whilst thou shalt endure forev- 
er. The world and all that it contains shall pass 
away, but thou shalt remain. And man, the 
creature of thy hand, poor, feeble, sinful man, 
shall also be immortal. Blessed be thy name, O 
Lord ! for thou hast given me life ; thou hast be- 
stowed on me more blessings than I can number ; 
thou hast granted me the power of becoming 
good and happy here ; and, above all, thou hast 
promised that I shall live forever, and hast pointed 
out to me the way to unfading happiness, by the 
revelation of thy gospel. Thou hast set before 
me a pure and perfect example of holiness, and 
hast bestowed on me the means of knowing and 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 15 

doing thy will. What have I done, that I should 
be the object of such unspeakable bounty ? How 
have I deserved that thou shouldst thus shower 
thy blessings upon me ? Alas ! I have been un- 
worthy of thy favors. I have not given my 
whole heart unto thee. I have not continually 
remembered thy goodness, and been thankful un- 
to thee. O Lord ! pardon me, I beseech thee. 
Impress my heart with holy gratitude and love. 
May the comforts I enjoy, the gifts of thy hand, 
never shut my heart against thee, and render me 
forgetful of thy presence. May my affections 
never be fixed on the fleeting things of this 
world ; but may I seek after thy favor, which is 
better than life ; and may I love virtue more than 
all the world can bestow. May thy grace, O 
Lord ! dwell in me, and guide me in the way 
w T hich leadeth to life everlasting. On this holy 
day may I devote myself to thee, and gain more 
knowledge of thy will, and greater strength to 
perform it. 

I ask not these blessings for myself alone, but 
for all mankind. May all men at length be ena- 
bled to acknowledge thee as their Creator, Pre- 
server, and Benefactor ; thy Son Jesus Christ as 
the perfect example of all holiness; and thy 
goodness as worthy of unceasing and everlasting 
praises. 



16 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

I commit my life, and all that I have, into thy 
nand; knowing that thou wilt do what is best for 
me, and only beseeching thee that thou wilt ren- 
der me in some measure deserving of thy good- 
ness. 

May the words of my mouth, and the medita- 
tions of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O 
Lord ! my strength and my redeemer. Amen. 



REFLECTION 

£ UNDA Y E VENING. 



Heb. xii. 14. 
" Whether ye eat, or whether ye drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all 
to the glory of God."— 1 Cor. x. 31. 

I have this day entered the house of God. I 
have heard of his wonderful perfections ; of his 
unceasing care of his rational creatures ; of his 
love for them, which he manifested by sending 
his Son Jesus Christ into the world, to reclaim 
them from sin. Have I not received pleasure 
from the conviction of his goodness? and do I 
not feel secure and happy under his guardian 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES, 17 

care ? Oh yes ! and why should not the best 
pleasures I have this day enjoyed be mine forev- 
er ? The study of his perfections is ever open to 
me ; and I am invited to hold communion with 
him in prayer. 

If I accustom my mind to take delight in the 
contemplation of the divine nature, new pleas- 
ures will continually offer themselves to me. If 
I consider the heavens, the work of his fingers, 
the moon and stars which he hath ordained, I 
shall find elevated enjoyment in the thought of 
his infinite power. If I observe how all things 
that he hath made depend on one another, and 
work together for the good of the whole, through 
all that part of the vast creation which comes 
within the bound of merely human perception, I 
must be astonished at the wisdom which could 
form and execute such a plan. If I think how 
carefully he has attended to the happiness of his 
creatures ; that he has never caused a want 
without providing a supply ; that he has given to 
the inferior orders of beings enjoyments suited to 
their capacity for pleasure, and to Man the power 
of becoming happy here, and infinitely so to all 
eternity ; I must not only adore, but love, the 
Being whose beneficence equals his power and 
wisdom. Whatever my eyes behold may remind 
me of him ; every gift which renders me happy 



18 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

may excite in me emotions of love and gratitude. 
The reflection that he is ever present with me 
may render me secure under all circumstances ; 
and subjects of the sweetest meditation may be 
ever at my command. 

If God had not revealed himself to us in his 
gospel, I might have feared that a weak, insignifi- 
cant creature like myself, would be beneath his 
notice ; would be, as it were, passed over, and 
forgotten, while so many vast designs continually 
require his care. But now no such fears need 
harass me. I now know that he, who formed 
me, watches over me ; is aware of the thoughts 
which now pass through my mind ; and cannot 
for an instant forget me ; that as he loves all the 
works of his hand, he loves me, and will provide 
for my happiness as long as I strive to deserve 
his favor. Can I, then, forget him who ever re- 
membereth me ? Can I, who receive all good 
things from him, enjoy them without thinking of 
their Author ? Can I form friendships with be- 
ings frail and sinful as myself, and seek no com- 
munion with him, who, if I love him, will never 
leave me, nor forsake me ? Shall I be intent on 
gathering together the luxuries of life, when he 
can disperse them in a moment, or change them 
into bitter sorrows 1 Much rather let me make 
God my friend; let me receive his gifts with 



/ 

DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 19 

gratitude ; let me seek after the heavenly pleas- 
ures of devotion, which become sweeter as oth- 
er enjoyments fail. Let me remember that God 
is present, not only while I pay my stated devo- 
tions to him, but during every moment of my ex- 
istence. Why, then, should I confine my thoughts 
of him to those times 1 I continually need his 
assistance in all the little trials and temptations 
which befall me ; and his ears are ever open to 
me, and his love is always ready to assist me. 
Let me joyfully thank him for every pleasure, 
and then the gift will be sanctified to me : let me 
seek his consolations in every sorrow, and its bit- 
terness will be assuaged. 

Great as are the delights of devotion in times 
of prosperity, in affliction their value will be infi- 
nitely increased. From the portion of sorrow 
which has been my lot, I am aware of the insuf- 
ficiency of worldly comfort. The consolations 
of religion alone are able to relieve the wounded 
heart. While the pursuit of all that this world 
can afford is at times distasteful and irritating to 
the mind, the reflection that he who made it lia- 
ble to suffering is beholding and pitying the 
grief his mercy and wisdom saw fit to inflict, and 
is able and willing to remove it as soon as it has 
fulfilled its end, is a source of unspeakable com- 
fort. I know the relief of pouring out a full 



20 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

heart into the bosom of a friend, though that 
friend can only afford sympathy and fallible 
counsel. How great, then, must be the com- 
fort of confiding my sorrows to an Almighty 
friend ! to one whom I have loved above all 
things, in the midst of prosperity ! I must, like 
all my fellow creatures of mankind, sometimes 
endure sorrow ; and may these consolations then 
be mine ! Let me increase the value of the 
blessings I now enjoy, by considering them as 
the gifts of a tender Father ; and let me render 
my gratitude acceptable to him, by a proper use 
of them. Let me pray to him every morning 
and every evening for his protection and bless- 
ing ; and let my thoughts dwell upon him con- 
tinually during the day. If I always act under 
a conviction of his presence, and with a desire 
of pleasing him, every thought and every deed 
will become an act of devotion. Thus shall I 
cast all my cares upon him who careth for me ; 
and thus only can I secure to myself the posses- 
sion of peace in this world, and the inheritance 
of joy in that which is to come. 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 21 

PRAYER. 

SUNDAY EVENING. > 

O thou almighty and ever-present God ! who 
knowest ail the thoughts of my heart, accept, I 
beseech thee, the tribute of sincere gratitude and 
praise which I now offer unto thee. I know that 
wherever I go and whatsoever I do, thou art with 
me. All things that I behold are the works of 
thy hand. Thou sustainest me in life, and con- 
tinually watchest over me, to provide for my 
wants, and to shield me from danger. Knowing 
that thou art within me, above me, and around 
me, may I make this knowledge a source of 
comfort to myself by deserving thy love. May 
I not, while enjoying the gifts of thy providence, 
be forgetful of the hand by which they are be- 
stowed. May I not live without thee in the 
world ; nor seek after those pleasures which war 
against the soul, and which would subject me to 
thy displeasure. Thou hast promised thy grace 
to those who seek for it with sincerity of heart. 
O, then, lift up the light of thy countenance up- 
on me, that the darkness of guilt may never 
overshadow me. Let thy love reign in my heart, 



22 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

that the desire of sinful pleasures may never en- 
ter there. In the hours of gladness, may I de- 
vote my best powers and affections unto thee ; 
for in sorrow there is no help but in thee. At 
every return of this solemn day, may I feel that 
I have advanced in wisdom and goodness, and 
that I am more worthy of being called a follower 
of my blessed Saviour. 

Continue to me, as far as thou shalt see fit, the 
comforts and blessings I now enjoy, especially 
those I most highly prize, the means of improve- 
ment in knowledge and piety. I ask not to be 
exempt from sorrow ; but when it comes, may it 
be borne with meek resignation, and cheerful ac- 
quiescence in thy will. May I seek consolation 
from thee, who alone canst alleviate the sorrow 
thou hast caused. Whatever may be my lot, 
may the pleasures of devotion, and the peace 
arising from trust in thee, be unalloyed by self- 
reproach, or the miseries consequent on sin. 
May I pass through life, supported by thy hand, 
rejoicing in thy love, and relying on the glorious 
promises of thy gospel ; and may the stroke of 
death, whether it come early or late, find me dis- 
posed peacefully to surrender my soul into thy 
hands who gavest me being, and hoping, through 
thine infinite mercy, to enter joyfully into the 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 23 

presence of thy glory, and to taste of those 
pleasures which are at thy right hand for ever- 
more. 

I ask* all in the name, and as the disciple, of 
thy Son Jesus Christ : through whom I would 
ascribe unto thee all honor and praise forever, 
Amen, 



24 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

REFLECTION. 

MONDAY MORNING. 



" This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have 

loved you." John xv. 12. 
" Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that 



I observe, wherever I direct my view, that 
nothing, in all the vast creation, is made to exist 
alone. All things depend on one another for 
something essential to their existence. The sun, 
and the worlds which circle round it, are balanc- 
ed by other systems through the power of attrac- 
tion. We can perceive that the earth could not 
bring forth fruits, without the assistance of the 
sun and the rain. The sun draws up steams 
and vapors from the ground, which fall again in 
showers, and refresh the earth, and enable it to 
produce those stores, which serve for the support 
and delight of the living creatures which inhabit 
it. These animals, in their turn, serve as food 
for one another and for man. Man, dependent 
on the ranks of beings below him for subsist^ 
ence, can enjoy none of the pleasures and ad- 
vantages of life without the assistance of his 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 25 

own species. As the community of mankind is 
formed by my wise and benevolent Father, differ- 
ent individuals are endowed with different pow- 
ers, inclinations, and talents; and thus scarcely 
a want can arise, which some one is not able to 
supply ; and not one link in the whole chain of 
society is wanting. 

By this constitution of things I plainly per- 
ceive that men are brought into the world, not to 
live in selfish, miserable independence, but to 
promote the happiness of each other. They are 
all the children of a common Parent, and were 
evidently intended to be social beings, and (what 
it is to be hoped they will in time become) a hap- 
py community. If I believe this to be the inten- 
tion of my Maker, let me consider what I am to 
expect from my fellows-creatures of mankind, and 
what I owe to them. I know that all blessings 
proceed primarily from God ; but he has given 
them to me by the hands of his creatures : and I 
can in no way render my gratitude more accept- 
able to him, than by doing, in my turn, all that I 
can to promote the good of those whom he hath 
made. I owe my support, and the care of my 
infancy, to those parents and friends who with 
disinterested kindness have brought me up, and 
rendered me happy when I could not reward 
their care. Even now do I not owe all the com- 
3 



26 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

forts of life, of which I possess so large a share, 
to the labors of others'? And what do I, in my 
turn, for them ? It is but little that I can do ; 
but I may always find some, less blessed than 
myself, whom I can assist in time of need ; some 
more ignorant than myself, to whom I may im- 
part a portion of knowledge : and, were noth- 
ing else in my power, there are always some 
whose joys will be increased by my participation, 
and whose sorrows will be soothed by my sympa- 
thy. Have I not friends, to whom it is my duly 
to pay kind domestic offices and observances? 
Can I not find, in the abodes of sorrow, those 
whom I may nurse in sickness, soothe in distress, 
or relieve in want ? Are there not among the 
old, some whose passage to the grave may be 
cheered by my respectful attention, my forbear- 
ance of the failings incident to age, and my 
gratitude for the advice which experience loves 
to give ? Are there not, among the young, those 
whom I may benefit by the services of disinter- 
ested friendship ? My power of doing thus will 
increase with my years : may the disposition in- 
crease likewise ! 

The most powerful arguments, however, for 
the, practice of benevolence are offered by our 
holy religion, whose chief aim and end is the en- 
couragement of this virtue : and in proportion to 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 27 

my advance in it will be my progress in religion. 
The beloved Son of God was the purest exam- 
ple of its perfections ; and the tendency of all 
his discourses was to inculcate it. He fed the 
hungry, healed the sick, comforted the sorrowful, 
encouraged and pardoned the repentant; em- 
ploying his miraculous powers for the good of 
others, while he himself underwent every species 
of suffering. The tenor of his instructions ever 
was, " Freely ye have received, freely give ;" 
" Sell that thou hast, and give to the poor ;" 
" Give to him that asketh of thee ;" " Love your 
enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for noth- 
ing again." And in his description of his sec- 
ond coming, benevolence appears to be the chief 
qualification for enjoying his rewards. Great are 
these rewards. No less than treasures which 
nothing can corrupt — treasures which increase 
in proportion to self-denial — treasures which fail 
not, eternal in the heavens ■ the cheering con- 
sciousness that the merciful shall obtain mercy ; 
the conviction that God loveth a cheerful giver ; 
that the alms which are given in secret shall be 
openly acknowledged and recompensed, at the 
resurrection of the just ; and above all, the antici- 
pation of that soul-stirring invitation to those who 
have fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited 
the sick and imprisoned, to enter into the enjoy- 



28 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

ment of the happiness prepared for them from 
the foundation of the world. 

In all the works of God, how apparent is his 
fatherly love for his creatures ! None of his per- 
fections is more evident ; and there is none 
which it is more my duty to imitate. In this re- 
spect I may strive to become perfect, as he is 
perfect. While on earth, I may promote and 
encourage the growth of that blessed disposition, 
the exercise of which will, in all probability, 
form a part of my happiness in another state of 
being. It is reasonable to conclude this, as it is 
evident that those whose whole minds are en- 
grossed by the care of their own happiness, are 
little fitted for dwelling in the presence of God, 
who is love itself; of Jesus, who gave himself 
for us ; or of those holy men who offered their 
lives to secure the richest and best blessings to 
mankind. O ! surely the spirit of love is the 
noblest and best which can dwell in the human 
heart ! It is a portion of God's own spirit ; it is 
the mind which was in Christ Jesus ! 

O ! noble example of this glorious virtue, let 
that mind be in me also ! May thy labors, thy 
sufferings, thy strivings to promote the good of 
all men, not be lost upon me ! May they ani- 
mate me to follow in thy steps, to press forward 
towards the goal which thou hast reached, like 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 29 

thee seeking no reward but the favor of my God, 
and the love which he will hereafter extend to 
those whose benevolence will no longer be exert- 
ed in overcoming or alleviating evil, but in pro- 
moting the continually increasing happiness of 
kindred spirits, through all eternity ! 



PRAYER. 

MONDAY MORNING. 

Almighty God ! the Father of men ! to whom 
I" owe life and all its enjoyments, with humble 
gratitude I bow down before thee, to bless thee 
for thy continued mercies. Thy power called 
me into being ; thy goodness preserved me dur- 
ing the helpless period of infancy ; hath sur- 
rounded me with all the means of enjoyment 
and improvement ; hath placed me among those 
who have been careful of my welfare, and who 
have taught me to look up to thee as the giver 
of all good, and to find delight in praising thee. 
Thanks be to thee, O Lord ! for all thy goodness. 
Without thy protecting care, I could not have 
escaped from danger and from death : if thou 
3* 



SO DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

hadst not granted me the tidings of salvation, I 
had lived in ignorance of thee : I had possessed 
thy gifts without knowing their Author, and had 
been but little above the brutes that perish. If 
thou hadst not caused the light of thy gospel to 
shine upon me, I had had no guide to life ever- 
lasting, no hope in death. What shall I render 
unto thee, O Lord ! for all thy mercies 1 What 
can I do to please thee? I will gratefully enjoy 
thy gifts ; I will contemplate and strive to imi- 
tate thy perfections ; I will use the powers which 
thou hast given me for the good of others ; I will 
endeavor to glorify thy gospel, by leading a life, 
holy, harmless, and undefiled. Thou hast gra- 
ciously promised that, if performed with a sin- 
cere and pure heart, thou wilt accept these hum- 
ble services. O Lord ! grant me thy grace to 
live according to thy will. Assist me to over- 
come pride, vanity, selfishness, and all other sin- 
ful dispositions. May the same mind be in me, 
which was in Christ Jesus our Lord ; may I be, 
like him, meek, humble, and devout ; may I, like 
him, labor continually for the good of mankind ; 
may I, like him, give up all worldly advantages 
which are incompatible with obedience to thee. 
If any offend me, may I exercise his forgiving 
spirit ; may I be his faithful follower on earth, 
and at length be thought worthy, by sincere, 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 31 

though imperfect obedience, to enter into that 
happy kingdom, where he is seated at thy right 
hand, and where the spirits of the just made 
perfect shall rejoice in thy presence, forever 
and ever. 

I thank thee, O my Protector ! that thou hast 
guarded me from danger during the past night, 
and that thou hast permitted me to arise in peace 
this morning. Be with me, and all whom I love, 
1 beseech thee, through this day : grant us all 
that is necessary to our well being, and above 
all, that we may spend each moment in thy fear. 
And when we retire to rest this night, may it be 
with a peaceful consciousness of thine approba- 
tion, and with hearts and minds better fitted for 
thy service. 

Hear my prayers, O Lord ! and may thy bless- 
ing rest upon us forever and ever. Amen. 



32 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES* 

REFLECTION. 

MONDAY EVENING. 

"Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me 
more than these ? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord ; thou know- 
est that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs." 
John xxi. 15. 

'* When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing 
by whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold 
thy Son ! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother ! 
And from that hour that disciple took her Unto his own home." 
John ix. 26, 27. 

" [Paul] is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the 
Gentiles." Acts ix. 15. 

It is a pleasing reflection, that the gospel not 
only furnishes me with rules for the regulation 
of my conduct under all circumstances, but also 
sets before me a variety of characters, which may 
serve either as warnings or examples to me. Our 
Saviour himself was the model by which I may 
perceive what perfection I ought to aim at ; and 
by the examples of the apostles I may learn that 
men of various and strong passions, in the midst 
of dangers and temptations, without advantages 
of education, were able to overcome the world, 
and to live and die the faithful disciples of their 
glorified master. 

Peter was a man of impetuous, and, at first, 
ungoverned feelings ; at one time declaring that 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 33 

Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God ; and at 
another, notwithstanding this conviction, meanly 
denying him ; at one time declaring that, though 
all others should leave their Lord, yet he would 
not forsake him ; and then flying, with the rest, 
in the moment of danger ; now wrought upon 
by terror to disclaim all knowledge of the Sa- 
viour who had offered him eternal life ; and then, 
melted by the one look which Jesus cast upon 
him, going out and weeping bitterly ; now dis- 
mayed and dejected by the death of his master, 
and afterwards animated, and, as it were, inspir- 
ed, by the confirmation which the resurrection 
of Christ gave to his doctrine, coming forward 
fearlessly and intrepidly as the witness of the 
life, words and actions of him who was despised 
and rejected of men. This was the time when 
Peter struggled to vanquish his ignoble terrors : 
he seems now to have cast away whatever re- 
mained of the spirit of worldliness ; he now 
faced a life of danger and a violent death ; and 
never after, but in one single instance, do we 
find a trace of the weaknesses it must have cost 
him so much to surmount. And yet, exalted as 
were his virtues, how great was his humility ! 
The writings of the Evangelist Mark were seen 
by him, and he had the power of palliating, if 
not of concealing, the errors of which he had 



34 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

been guilty during the life of Jesus : and yet 
how openly are those errors avowed ! and what 
a proof is this of his humility, and zeal for the 
honor of his Lord ! I know that he spent his 
life in promoting the spread of the gospel, and at 
length sealed his testimony with his blood. Let 
me honor his character with all the reverence 
and admiration such intrepid virtue demands. 

The apostle John was a very different charac- 
ter. In him, meekness, gentleness and benevo- 
lence abounded. It is a proof how highly these 
virtues were esteemed by Jesus, that the apostle 
who possessed them in the greatest degree was 
chiefly distinguished by his love. To his care 
our Saviour consigned his bereaved mother ; and 
well did John fulfil his trust, and happy must he 
have been, that his master considered him wor- 
thy of the charge. We hear little of him after 
the death of Jesus, except that he also under- 
went his share of suffering, that he inculcated 
and practised the love of God and of mankind, 
and that a peculiar and glorious revelation was 
made to him in his old age. 

The most striking and distinguished character 
of all among the followers of Jesus, was that of 
Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles. The man 
brought up in the prejudices which wrought such 
harm to the gospel ; the man who assisted at the 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 35 

stoning of the first martyr ; who breathed out 
slaughter against the Christians ; afterwards be- 
came the champion of the faith he had striven to 
put down, and preached the doctrines of him, at 
whose ignominious death he had rejoiced. He 
was thought worthy of a special revelation from 
our Saviour : and nobly did he, from that mo- 
ment, devote the vast powers of his mind, all he 
had, even life itself, to the service of God. Nev- 
er, through years of sorrow, danger, and suffer- 
ing of every kind, did he repent the sacrifice he 
had made : never did he shrink from trials the 
most hard for human nature to endure ; but, ap- 
proaching more nearly than any other character 
which history presents, to the perfections of him, 
whom not having seen, he loved, he performed 
the great work of preaching the gospel in strange 
lands, where the true God was unknown : and 
vast indeed is the debt of gratitude which I, and 
generations yet unborn, owe to his labors. 

Let me dwell on the virtues of these great 
men, till I become animated in some degree by 
their spirit. Let me endeavor to acquire the fer- 
vor and earnestness of Peter, the meekness and 
benevolence of John, the steadfast faith and uni- 
versal charity of Paul : and then, and not till 
then, shall I have duly profited by the glorious 
revelation v/ith which God has blessed me. 



36 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

PRAYER. 

MONDAY EVENING. 

O thou ! who triest the heart, and hast pleas- 
ure in uprightness, wherefore should I, frail 
and imperfect as I am, dare to seek communion 
with thee, the greatest, wisest, and best of all 
beings ? But, great as thou art, thou hast prom- 
ised to hear the prayer of those who worship in 
spirit and in truth. The homage of a grateful 
soul is acceptable unto thee who delightest in 
mercy, and the supplications of the humble and 
contrite will not ascend to thee in vain. Blessed 
be thou, that thou hast permitted me to call thee 
Father, and that thou hast invited me, as a mem- 
ber of thy family of mankind, to pour out my 
soul before thee, and to seek thy support in dis- 
tress and temptation. I will also offer up my 
tribute of ardent gratitude for the love which 
thou hast bestowed upon me, and which an eter- 
nity of praise could not repay. Through the 
past day thy favor hath still attended me. 1 
arose in the morning, in peace and safety ; I 
have been supplied with convenient food, and 
with all that is necessary to comfort -and happi- 
ness. I have enjoyed the means of knowing 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 37 

thee better in thy word and in thy works, and 
having been thus blessed, I will lay myself down 
in peace and sleep, trusting that thy almighty 
arm will still sustain me, and that thy watchful 
love will still guard me from evil and danger. 

I know, O God ! how unworthy I have been 
of thy favor. I know that I have followed too 
much the devices and desires of my own heart, 
and that thy benefits have not excited in me such 
gratitude as leadeth to implicit obedience. God 
of all mercy! pardon the imperfections of my 
service : grant me thy grace to love and serve 
thee better. May I diligently study thy word, 
and may the examples of great and good men, 
there held out to me, induce me, like them, to 
overcome every weakness, to give up every sinful 
indulgence, and to conquer every temptation, 
rather than offend against thee, and draw down 
upon myself thy most righteous displeasure. 

To thy care I commend all whom I love, trust- 
ing that thou wilt protect them. O Lord ! be 
thou our guide through life, our support in death, 
and our eternal portion in that happy state to 
which thou hast promised to admit all who faith- 
fully and diligently serve thee on earth. 

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I would 
ascribe unto thee supreme honors and everlast- 
ing praises, Amen. 
4 



38 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 



REFLECTION. 

TUESDAY MORNING. 

" Do all things without murmurings or disputings." Phil. ii. 14. 

" Where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil 
work. But the wisdom that is from above is hrst pure, then 
peaceable, gentle, and easy to he entreated." James iii. 16, 17. 

How does it happen that though God has bestow- 
ed on every man a large share of blessings ; though 
he has placed his rational offspring in a beautiful 
world, created for their enjoyment; though he 
has endowed them with social affections, and 
rendered the exercise of those affections a source 
of the purest pleasure ; so little unalloyed happi- 
ness is found in the world 1 Many miseries un- 
doubtedly arise from causes out of the control of 
man, and many from the gross vices of the wick- 
ed ; but there is much unhappiness, independent 
of these causes. I frequently perceive that fami- 
lies, who are exempted from misfortune, who 
possess a competent share of this world's goods, 
and who practise no vices, yet are not at ease. 
Surely this must arise from the want of amiable 
dispositions. When all without is prosperous, 
there must be some mental disease which impairs 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 39 

their enjoyment ; and this disease I believe to be 
the want of control over the temper. How 
grievous is it, that this fault, which is never incor- 
rigible, though, where long indulged, very diffi- 
cult to overcome, should be suffered to make such 
ravages in comfort and peace! How grievous is 
it, that beings who might make each other's hap- 
piness, and be a mutual support under unavoida- 
ble sorrows, should thus render themselves and 
each other miserable, from want of self-com- 
mand ! Men, from bodily constitution, from ear- 
ly education, and from many other circumstances, 
grow up with different tastes, inclinations, and 
tempters, which, unless controlled and carefully 
managed, will occasion much injury to each 
other. But if each one were to consider the 
comfort, and make allowance for the weaknesses 
of his neighbor, and to govern his temper ac- 
cordingly, how much of the misery of which all 
complain might be avoided, and how smoothly 
and agreeably would the affairs of life go on ! 

In the hour of calm reflection, my reason 
confirms these truths. But is my practice never 
at variance with my convictions ? I, like every 
one else, sometimes meet with crosses and disap- 
pointments. Is my temper always proof against 
provocation? If offended, do I never resent? 
If unjustly accused, do I with a soft answer 



40 DEYOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

turn away wrath ? Can I bear, with meekness 
and good humor, to have my intentions thwarted, 
my motives misunderstood, my benevolent de- 
signs frustrated, or even my failings rebuked, 
and my faults censured ? Is there no per- 
tinacity in retaining my opinions, no obstina- 
cy in my own will, no peevishness and irritability 
under vexatious circumstances, no sullenness 
under reproof ? Let me consider the necessity 
of correcting what is wrong in my temper, and 
strive to amend it, before the habit is grown too 
strong. It is absurd to say that my temper is 
good, while that of others is so ; that I am good- 
humored unless provoked, and that, therefore, 
the fault lies in others, instead of myself. I can 
never live in a society where tempers are all per- 
fect : and if that were possible, accidents, which 
are under no one's control, would continually 
occur to disturb my tranquillity, if my peace were 
not beyond their power. It will continually hap- 
pen that my charity will be abused, my favorite 
pursuits interrupted, my leisure broken in upon : 
and what remedy is there for these vexations, if 
my temper be not prepared to meet them ? Let 
me not think this a trifle beneath my care : let 
me not persuade myself that, because I am young, 
the task need not yet be undertaken. My life is 
in a great measure made up of trifles ; and there- 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 41 

fore nothing which affects my happiness in the 
smallest degree can be beneath my notice. I 
cannot form an idea how much the peace of fu- 
ture years may depend on the temper I now 
encourage; but that they are very intimately 
connected, the examples I daily see assure me. 

How many families are obliged to sacrifice 
their comfort to one peevish, passionate, or sullen 
temper; and how unhappy and ungrateful should 
I be, if I were thus to repay the kindness of 
those who have brought me up, and endeavored 
to teach me the lesson of self-government ! Let 
me be aware in time. Let me from this moment 
command myself when disposed to be vexed by 
unavoidable circumstances. It will doubtless 
cause me a struggle ; but let the struggle be made 
before it is too late, and my endeavors will be 
amply repaid by the peace which will be my 
portion. Let me remember, that the small trials 
which I meet with are no less sent by God than 
greater sorrows, and are equally intended for my 
good ; and therefore let me not be above calling 
in my religious principles to my aid ; for where 
there is temptation, however small, their assist- 
ance will be necessary. 

Having thus resolved, let me adhere to my 
resolution. This very day, perhaps this very 
hour, some difficulty may occur which it will re- 
4 * 



42 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

quire resolution to overcome with good humor ; 
and then let me call to mind my present reflec- 
tions. After every victory, I shall find less diffi- 
culty in conquering. Let me never yield to 
temptation of any kind, against the conviction of 
reason and conscience. 



PRAYER. 

TUESDAY MORNING. 

O ! thou all-powerful and all-wise God, all 
things were created by thee, and all things are at 
thy disposal. All that I have was bestowed by 
thee, and whatsoever I do is known unto thee. 
O Lord ! thou hast searched me and known me : 
thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, 
and under standest my thoughts afar off. Thou 
compassest my path, and my lying down, and art 
acquainted with all my ways. Thou art within 
me, and above me, and around me. Nothing 
cometh to pass without thy permission. No 
word can I speak, no thought can I indulge, 
which is not known unto thee. O ! may this 
conviction lead me to govern myself in thy fear, 
to live according to thy will, and to submit my- 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 4 



o 



self to thy righteous dispensations. If gladness 
should be my portion, may my thoughts be filled 
with thy love, and may gratitude enhance every 
enjoyment : if sorrow should be appointed me, 
may the remembrance of thy superintending 
providence, thy fatherly care, lead me to place 
unshaken trust in thee, and to yield cheerful sub- 
mission to thy will. Though thou shouldest see 
fit to deprive me of all beside, yet thou wilt be 
ever with me, and nothing can estrange thee from 
the beings thou hast made. 

O Lord ! may thy grace preserve me from sin : 
may I fortify my soul, by the love of thee, against all 
temptations ; but if my feet should stray from thy 
ways, if my heart should no longer be a temple 
for thee to dwell in, may thy chastening rod bring 
me back to the paths of peace and virtue. Even 
if I be bowed down to the dust with sorrow, if 
every hope but that of pardon be lost, let thy 
chastisement not cease till I have once more 
learned to dwell in thy fear. But thou art of 
purer eyes than to behold iniquity : thou art a 
God of holiness, and in thy sight the wicked shall 
not stand. May I, then, never incur thy displeas- 
ure, but above all things seek thy favor, which 
is better than life. I beseech thee to grant me 
thy support in trial, thy love in prosperity, thy 
guardianship in life and in death. May I be an 



44 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

humble follower of our glorified master, and may 
my sincere, though imperfect obedience, be ac- 
ceptable unto thee who knowest our frame, and 
rememberest that we are but dust. 

Grant unto all thy creatures, I pray thee, the 
things which are needful for their support and 
preservation. Accept my thanksgiving for the 
protection which thou hast hitherto afforded us. 

I ask these things of thee, the God who givest 
to all men liberally, and upbraidest not, as long as 
they ask in faith ; and in that faith I would as- 
cribe unto thee, honor, glory, and praise, forever 
Amen 



REFLECTION. 

TUESDAY EVENING. 



" The sting of death is sin." 1 Cor. xv. 56. 

" The tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with 
them, and they shall be his people ; and God himself shall be 
with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all 
tears from their eyes ; and there shall be no more death, neither 
sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain j for 
the former things are passed away." Rev. xxi. 3, 4. 

It is too common for the young, while in the 
possession of health, to forget that their present 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 45 

enjoyments will not always last ; that the hour of 
death must come, and may, perhaps, come soon. 
If it must arrive, it seems almost impossible that 
so important an event should not engage their 
attention, even though they were assured that its 
approach would be long delayed. If I knew 
with certainty, that at some period of my life I 
should remove to a distant country, of which I 
could know little, but that it is essentially differ- 
ent from the one I now inhabit, in which my 
pursuits must be very unlike what they are at 
present, and that I must go alone, is it possible 
that so great a change should not engage my 
chief attention ; especially i f it might take place 
at any moment ? Would it not be the part of pru- 
dence to learn what I could of this other country, 
and to prepare myself, according to my knowl- 
edge, for being happy there ? Such should be 
my foresight with respect to the important change 
of death. Let me consider what this change is, 
and what is the fittest preparation for it. 

God has created me with a body and mind, 
endowed with various senses and faculties. He 
has placed me in a world which supplies me with 
all that is necessary for the support and enjoy- 
ment of the body and its powers. My animal 
senses meet with their appropriate gratifications, 
and are inlets to great pleasures. The mind is 



46 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

not so fully provided for. Though its faculties 
have large and delightful occupation in contem- 
plating the perfections of the great Creator in his 
works, yet this is not sufficient for its capacities. 
The knowledge it is able to obtain is not enough 
for its desires : it continually seeks for fuller sat- 
isfaction, but cannot find it in this state of its 
existence. Instead of obliging man to check the 
aspirings of his nobler powers, and chiefly to 
seek the gratification of the animal senses, God 
has promised that all men shall live again, after 
the body has been dissolved in death ; when, if 
previously prepared by the means which he hath 
granted, they shall obtain that perfect knowl- 
edge, and full enjoyment, for which they sought 
in vain on earth. Notwithstanding these hopes 
and promises, how many, instead of fitting them- 
selves for the highest satisfactions, persist in grat- 
ifying the body only, which must soon die with all 
its pleasures ! One cause of this is the dread of 
the dissolution which must precede the initiation 
into the happiness of heaven. It is true that 
death is commonly accompanied by pain and 
sickness ; and there is, besides, something in the 
highest degree awful, in the prospect of entering 
a state of which we know little, but that it is ma- 
terially different from the present. But these 
fears will be increased, instead of lessened, by 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 47 

deferring all preparation for the event, till its 
approach. Let me then prepare in time, both 
for death, and what will follow. 

God has revealed to us, that in heaven his 
manifest presence will be a source of enjoyment 
to the virtuous. Let me, then, on earth, delight 
to study his perfections as far as they are open to 
my contemplation. Let me find happiness, now, 
in the conviction of his continual presence, that 
the same conviction may cause the same happi- 
ness in a higher state of existence. After death, 
all sensual enjoyments will be done away : let me 
now, therefore, make use of them only in subser- 
vience to intellectual pleasures. After death, I 
may be admitted into the presence of Jesus, who 
died for me, that I might gain entrance into that 
happy state. Let me study his virtues, and imi- 
tate them to the best of my power, that my com- 
munion with him may be more perfect. I am 
told that benevolence is an essential requisite for 
heavenly happiness. Let me, then, as long as I 
live, be more careful for the good of others than 
for my own. Let me fortify my soul against the 
pains of sickness and the fear of death, by the 
reflection that the same merciful Father who has 
placed eternal happiness within my reach, inflicts 
these preparatory sufferings to enable me the bet- 
ter to obtain it ; and that he has promised himself 



48 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

to support me, if I put my trust in him, and en- 
deavor to acquiesce in his will, however difficult 
that acquiescence may be. Let not any mortal 
fears, then, divert my attention from the glorious 
hopes beyond the grave. Let me not think only 
of suffering, till my soul turns for relief to views 
beneath it : let me not contemplate the dark val- 
ley of the shadow of death, till I am tempted to 
trust to the delusive gleam of earthly pleasures ; 
but let my gaze be fixed on that glorious region, 
where God himself shall be an everlasting light 
to those who, through faith and patience, inherit 
the promises he hath vouchsafed to mankind. 
But, above all, let me not, because the day of 
death may be distant, forget the necessity of these 
preparations. It is not the few last hours of ex- 
piring life which will fit me for immortality. The 
few last years, even, will be very insufficient for 
the work I have to do. If I am convinced that 
it must be done at all, nothing can excuse me 
from beginning it now. I have passions to sub- 
due, grovelling inclinations to raise, wavering 
hopes to animate to steadfast faith, pride to 
change to humility, natural sympathies to strength- 
en into Christian benevolence, attachment to this 
world to convert into the citizenship of heaven ! 
Can it ever be too soon to begin such a work as 
this ? It will require continual vigilance, and 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 49 

unremitted care, through whatever portion of 
time God shall be pleased to allot me. May his 
grace assist and sustain me to the end ! 



PRAYER 



TUESDAY EVENING, 



O thou glorious Being ! King eternal, immor- 
tal, invisible ! may these meditations of my heart 
be acceptable unto thee ! I would praise thee for 
thy mercy in having promised that thy creature, 
man, shall not always dwell in the midst of sin 
and suffering, but shall be enabled to enter that 
state where he shall be immortal as thyself ; 
where thou shalt no longer be invisible ; but 
where thy manifest presence shall be a source of 
unfailing happiness to him. O may the glories 
of thy heavenly kingdom not be veiled from me ! 
May I find my supreme delight in thy presence 
while on earth, that it may be my joy hereafter ! 
May I live on earth as a citizen of heaven ; not 
giving my soul to the vain and transitory pleas- 
ures of this world, which will delude and not 
satisfy, and which will lead me astray from thee., 



50 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

but contemplating thy perfections till I love things 
heavenly, and strive to lay up a treasure there, 
which shall be mine forever. I know that to do 
this I must overcome sin ; I must patiently en- 
dure sorrow ; I must submit to the stroke of 
death; I must prepare for judgment! Do thou, 
O Lord ! strengthen me against trial ; arm me 
with heavenly fortitude against suffering ; and 
support me in death ! When I am stretched on 
the bed of sickness, when the passing scenes of 
this world recede from my sight, when the awful 
realities of a future and eternal state open upon 
my view, do thou calm my anxious fears, dispel 
my doubts, strengthen my sinking heart, and con- 
firm my wavering faith. May no mistrust of thy 
goodness disturb my departing spirit, but may 
peace, the peace which passeth all understanding, 
the peace which Jesus promised to his true fol- 
lowers, sustain me in that awful hour; and may 
it be succeeded by thy acceptance of my imper- 
fect services ! 

To thee, O God ! do I commit myself, knowing 
that thy tender mercy will do what is best for 
me ; and, as long as I obey thee, I will fear 
no evil. 

These blessings I ask, not for myself only, but 
for all men. May the knowledge of thy glorious 
gospel, confirmed by the resurrection of him who 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES, 51 

preached it, spread over the whole earth. May 
all men, at length, know thee, the only true God, 
and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent ; and may 
this knowledge lead them to live in thy fear, en- 
joying the blessings of thy love. May thine infi- 
nite mercy at length re-unite us all in that better 
world, where sin and sorrow shall be known no 
more ; where the wicked cease from troubling, 
the weary are at rest, and the virtuous enjoy 
eternal happiness in the presence of thy glory. 

Unto thee be all blessing and praise forever 
Amen. 



52 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 



REFLECTION. 

WEDNESDAY MORNING. 

" A man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven." 

John iii. 27. 
" Whosoever shall humble himself as this little child, the same is 

the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matt, xviii. 4. 

I have often been struck by the pertinacity with 
which young persons maintain their own opinions, 
and their unwillingness to allow weight to the ad- 
vice of those, who, by age and experience, have 
gained more wisdom than it is possible for the 
young to possess. And it is not less worthy of 
remark, that the wisest, both as to human learning 
and divine attainments, are ever the most modest 
and open to conviction. Surely, then, humility 
must be a part of wisdom : otherwise this order 
would be reversed : those who are the most able 
would also be the -most willing to teach, and the 
youthful and inexperienced would thankfully 
learn. Lest I should fall into this error of igno- 
rance and folly, I will reflect on the importance 
and necessity of acquiring the virtue of Humility. 

If I consider humility only as a reasonable and 
becoming respect which the young should pay to 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 53 

the aged, its value is great: but when I reflect 
that it is a Christian virtue, and one on which 
most others are founded, its importance becomes 
unspeakable. Without humility, I cannot re- 
ceive the instructions of the gospel into a teach- 
able heart ; and while my heart does not assent 
to its truths, my progress can be but small. 
Without humility, I shall not fully avail myself 
of the assistance which the ministers of religion 
and other spiritual guides are able to afford ; and 
this great means of improvement will be partly 
lost to me : and above all, if I do not entertain a 
due reverence for this noble virtue, I cannot ap- 
preciate its beauty as displayed in the character 
of Jesus ; and therefore my imitation of this per- 
fection in him will be wanting. 

Christian humility is not, as many suppose, a 
negative virtue, a natural disposition of the mind, 
with which some are constitutionally endowed, 
and in which others are deficient. It is an ac- 
quired virtue ; one which needs much resolution 
and great efforts, to establish so firmly that other 
virtues may be founded upon it. It may be acquir- 
ed by steadily contemplating the sins and weak- 
nesses of the heart, and by impartially comparing 
the attainments in virtue already made with the 
character of Jesus; and not, as is too frequently 
done, by contrasting them with the follies of those 
5* 



54 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

who are frail and faulty as ourselves. If I com- 
pare myself with those who have not enjoyed 
equal advantages, I shall be in danger of becom- 
ing inflated with a sense of my fancied superiori- 
ty, while perhaps they, considering their oppor- 
tunities, have made greater advances than myself. 
Even in a comparison with the wise and good 
among men, I may be humbled, but not humbled 
enough. One standard of excellence is fixed, 
which will never vary ; and as long as I fall short 
of that, I shall have reason for the exercise of 
humility. Unless springing from this root, all my 
good qualities will be but as the flowers of the 
field, shaken by every blast, and withered by the 
first scorching ray. Fortitude, if not proceeding 
from the humblest submission to God, will not be 
a Christian virtue; it will be of the same nature 
as that practised by heathen philosophers before 
the revelation of our religion ; admirable indeed 
in them, but cold, cheerless, and hard to main- 
tain, in comparison with that secure and perfect 
reliance on an Almighty Guardian, which is the 
duty and the privilege of the Christian. 

Charity, in the largest sense of the word, is in 
the highest degree promoted by humility. If I 
know by experience the difficulty of overcoming 
my own weaknesses, I shall be inclined to give 
my compassion and assistance to those who need 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 55 

it, instead of exposing their failings, and ridi^ 
culing their infirmities. If I consider myself one 
of the humblest servants of the Most High, it 
will delight me to promote his plans of benevo- 
lence, as far as he has put it in my power, by 
strengthening the feeble-minded, supporting the 
weak, relieving the destitute, and instructing the 
ignorant. Christian charity, proceeding from 
humility, is the only benevolence which can be 
acceptable to God ; for the motives which prompt 
to ostentatious charity are not such as will meet 
with his approbation and reward. 

Perhaps I may sometimes be tempted to say 
that this humility will abridge my powers of use- 
fulness ; that if I entertained more confidence in 
myself, my efforts would be attended with better 
success ; and that, if all my endeavors must ap- 
pear so imperfect in my own estimation, it is in 
vain to attempt to make exertions which will 
never repay me. Let me be assured that genuine 
humility will never suggest thoughts like these : 
it is indolence, or reluctance of some kind, that 
presents itself under the appearance of meekness, 
to deceive me. Let me be convinced that the 
dignity of our holy religion is sufficient to support 
me, and make my exertions available. Let me 
remember that it will not be what I have achiev- 
ed, but what I have endeavored, which will be 



56 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES, 

considered by rny final Judge. Let me, in all 
doubts and perplexities, turn to contemplate the 
character of Jesus, who, perfect as he was, blend- 
ed the meekness well becoming the frailest of 
his followers, with a dignity which proclaimed 
him the beloved Son of God. Let me endeavor, 
in youth, in age, in poverty or riches, in joy or 
sorrow, to be like him, meek and lowly of heart, 
that I may find rest to my soul ! 



PRAYER. 

WEDNESDAY MORNING.*" 

O thou all-righteous God ! holy and just ! who 
can appear before thee without sin ? who can de- 
serve thy favor 1 But, blessed be thy goodness, 
thou hast promised to accept the humble, imper- 
fect efforts of thy creatures to please thee. Thou 
hast made them frail ; and knowing their frame, 
thou mercifully forgivest their weakness, and par- 
donest their errors, if they seek to improve in 
holiness. I have too often sinned against thee, 
and merited thy displeasure; and thou dost still 
continue me in existence, and in the enjoyment of 



DEVOTIONAL EXETCCISE3. 57 

numberless mercies. O Lord ! may I not pre- 
sume upon thy goodness, and think, because thou 
dost bless me, that I am worthy of thy blessing. 
May I contemplate the perfection of the Christian 
character which I must strive to attain ; and, the 
more I contemplate it, the greater be my dili- 
gence, and the more humble my self- approval. 
May my soul not be elated by the conquest of 
one passion, the attainment of one virtue, or a 
partial knowledge of thy will ; but, when pride or 
vanity arises in my heart, may I reflect, with 
shame and contrition, on my own un worthiness, 
and remember that in this imperfect state I can 
never, by my own merits, deserve the eternal hap- 
piness which thou hast, of thy free grace, prom- 
ised to those who, by patient continuance in well 
doing, seek for glory, honor, and immortality. 
May I, in the season of youth, devote my powers, 
in all their vigor, to thy service ; and, as my un- 
derstanding ripens, may my piety also increase ; 
that, if my life be prolonged to old age, when the 
things of this world lose their value, and earthly 
pleasures no longer charm, I may have in store 
hopes and delights which ever outweigh all that 
earth can give. As I advance towards the grave, 
may I fix my view on the glorious prospect be- 
yond, which thou hast graciously revealed to 
man, to cheer him in trial and temptation, and to 



58 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES, 

encourage him to strive unto the end. If I give 
my youth unto thee, do thou support me in age, in 
sickness, and in sorrow, and may my whole de- 
pendence be on thee. May I not fear the hour 
of death, knowing that thou wilt be with me ; 
and when I appear before thy throne, may my 
sins be pardoned, and my unworthy endeavors 
accepted ; and may I, by thy grace, be permitted 
to join the happy number of the spirits of the just 
made perfect, who continually sing praises round 
thy throne. 

Now unto thee, the King eternal, immortal, in- 
visible, who dwellest in light inaccessible, whom 
no man hath seen, or can see, be glory, honor, 
and praise, forever. Amen. 



REFLECTION. 

WEDNESDAY EVENING. 

" If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his 
tongue, that man's religion is vain." James i. 26. 

" Bringing every thought into subjection to the obedience of 
Christ." 2 Cor. x. 5. 

I have often contemplated the character of Je- 
sus Christ ; and the sentiment which always re- 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 59 

curs on the contemplation is that of admiration 
of the perfect consistency of the whole. Virtues 
which some think incompatible with each other, 
there subsist in beautiful harmony. His meek- 
ness is consistent with his holy dignity, his for- 
bearance with his indignation against vice, his 
exalted holiness with perfect sympathy for his 
species, his acute sensibility for the sufferings of 
all men, with perfect trust in God. Self-control 
could be the only means by which he could so 
subdue his inclinations, balance his affections, 
make the lesser virtues subservient to the greater, 
as to form that Christian character which ought 
to be a model to all his followers as long as the 
world endures, and which must ever claim their 
admiration, reverence, gratitude, and love. 

It must be my endeavor continually to approach 
to the perfection of this noble character ; and, to 
the attainment of this end, self-command is one 
of the most necessary requisites. If I reflect on 
my conduct, and try to discover wherein I differ 
so much from the pattern I ought to imitate, I 
shall find that I often indulge anger which I af- 
terwards sincerely regret, that I say many things 
which I would gladly retract, and, above all, that 
I suffer my thoughts to wander till I have lost all 
authority over them. As long as my mind is not 
within my own power, it is in vain to think of 



60 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

bringing it under religious discipline. It is in 
vain to fix my standard of right, and to wish to 
act up to it, while the means which I must em- 
ploy are not under my own control, I must first 
gain authority over the passions I wish to subdue, 
the tongue I mean to rule, and the thoughts I 
desire to govern. 

Bein£ convinced of the danger of uncontrolled 
license of speech, let me be swift to hear, slow to 
speak; let me not be too anxious to declare my 
own opinions till, time may have matured them, 
and corrected the errors into which inexperience 
may have led me. Let me not indulge in ex- 
posing the faults of others ; but, where they are so 
glaring as to force observation, let them serve as 
a warning to myself, but not as a subject of con- 
versation, except in those very few instances, 
when the warning may be of use to others. I 
perceive that it is not always right to speak the 
whole of what I feel and think ; but much more 
wrong is it to give, as my own, opinions which I 
have never examined, and of the good or bad ten- 
dency of which I am therefore ignorant, but for 
the consequences of which I make myself respon- 
sible by promulgating them. Many young per- 
sons are led into this more than error — -this sin — 
by the love of talking ; but vanity has often a 
large share in it also, by prompting them to dis- 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 61 

play an imagined acuteness of reasoning or talent 
in argument. 

This leads me to consider the necessity of ob- 
taining control over the thoughts. If I could 
compute the time which has been employed in 
suffering my thoughts to dwell on the faults of 
others, on past circumstances so trifling as to de- 
serve only to be forgotten, on future events which 
may never take place, on hopes and fears without 
foundation, on plans which have never been ex- 
ecuted, on resolutions which have been broken as 
often as formed, and even on trifles which would 
be innocent, if any thing could be innocent which 
contributes to waste of thought, I should be 
shocked that so large a portion of the day in 
which only I can work, had been lost, and worse 
than lost. This evil is to be remedied by con- 
stant care, by strong resolution, and especially by 
frequent and steady self-examination. When a 
good train of thought is begun, I must be careful 
to keep my attention fixed upon it till I have fol- 
lowed it to the end, without turning aside for the 
sake of worthless trifles. I must strive to blend the 
feeling of duty with every other. In moments 
of leisure it must be my chief subject of medita- 
tion : in the busiest and gayest hours the same 
idea should be frequently dwelt upon, till it be- 
comes so associated with my occupations and 
6 



62 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

pleasures of every kind, that they shall introduce 
good thoughts instead of banishing them, shall 
awaken the conscience instead of deadening it. 
Thus, while engaged in the pursuit of knowl- 
edge, I shall apply diligently ; while busied with 
active duties, my whole mind will be given to the 
performance of them. 

When I have entered into communion with 
my Maker, let my whole soul be absorbed in de- 
votion, that no wandering thoughts may bring in 
the things of the world to intrude on the privacy 
which should be given to him alone ; that I may 
not mock him with the worship of the lips, while 
my heart is far from him ; that I may not give my 
soul in bondage to the world, while I ought to be 
serving him in spirit and in truth. The absence 
of the mind in the services of religion is one of 
the most dangerous consequences of want of com- 
mand over the thoughts ; a consequence which 
will fall heavily upon me, if I am not on my 
guard ; for it is an evil almost past cure, when it 
has been long encouraged. Let me then strive, 
without ceasing, to acquire the important habit of 
self-government, without which all virtuous wishes 
and desires will be ineffectual and vain. 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES, 63 

PRAYER. 

WEDNESDAY EVENING.*^ 

Great and ever blessed God, how glorious is thy 
name, and now adorable are thy perfections ! I 
cannot comprehend thy nature ; for what mortal 
creature can know the eternal God ? who can 
find out the Almighty to perfection ? Thou hast 
existed forever ; and of thy being there shall be 
no end : from everlasting to everlasting thou art 
God. Great as thou art, though heaven is thy 
throne, though infinite spase is thy habitation, 
thou dost not disdain to protect and sustain the 
meanest of thy creatures. Though angels that 
excel in strength are thy servants, though the 
mighty sun obeyeth thy command, though all that 
is vast and wonderful is thine, thou dost care for 
all things that thou hast made ; and not even a 
sparrow falleth to the ground without thy will. 
Thou hast invited man, sinful man, who disobey- 
eth and forgetteth thee, to draw near unto thee, to 
pour out his soul before thee in sorrow for sin : 
and, like a tender father, who pitieth his children, 
thou dost pity and pardon him, when he repent- 
eth of the evil which he hath done. O Lord ! I 
would partake of thy grace. I acknowledge 



64 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

with shame that I have displeased thee. I have 
done that which I ought not to have done, and have 
left undone that which I ought to have done. I 
have followed my own evil inclinations, rather 
than thy will. Thou hast said, " Give me thy 
heart ;" but I have given my heart too much to 
the things of the world, and have not cherished 
holy desires and heavenly hopes. O Lord ! 
teach me thy way ; teach me to please thee bet- 
ter, and to devote myself to thy service. May I 
contemplate thy attributes, till I strive in some 
measure to be perfect as thou art perfect. May 
I be a faithful follower of the Captain of our sal- 
vation : may I submit myself to his guidance, that 
I may pass safely and peacefully through the 
storms of sorrow, the snares of sin, and the dark 
valley of the shadow of death. Though his form 
is no more seen on earth, may the voice of exhor- 
tation, of encouragement, and of love, which still 
addresseth our hearts in his holy gospel, never 
cease to be my instructer in thy will, till the end 
of all things, when I shall appear before thee. 
O may I find mercy in that awful hour, and be 
permitted, through thy grace, to join those virtu- 
ous and happy spirits, who forever dwell with 
thee ! 

Merciful Father ! accept of my humble thanks- 
givings for the blessings which have marked the 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES, 65 

day which is past ; and may thy goodness protect 
me during the hours of darkness. May I lie down, 
and sleep, and wake in peace, because thou sus- 
tainest me ; and may my first thoughts be de- 
voted unto thee, my guardian and almighty 
Friend ! 

Bestow thy blessing, I beseech thee, on all thy 
children of mankind. Do thou reclaim the wick- 
ed, comfort the afflicted, and permit all to re- 
joice in the light of thy gospel. 
• I ask all in the name, and as the disciple, of 
thy Son, Jesus Christ, through whom I would as- 
cribe unto thee all glory, honor, and praise, for- 
ever. Amen. 
6 * 



66 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

REFLECTION. 

THURSDAY MORNING. 

** His tender mercies are over all his works." Psalm exlv. 9 

" In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that 

God sent his only-begotten Son into the world, that we might 

live through him." 1 John iv. 9. 

I have again been preserved from whatever 
dangers have beset me, and am once more per- 
mitted to enjoy the return of day, with its occu- 
pations and pleasures. What better season can 
I find, in which to contemplate the goodness of 
God ? How better than when rejoicing in his 
mercy, call to grateful remembrance the giver of 
every good and perfect gift? Though his bless- 
ings are more in number than the sand, though 
no memory can retain them all, and though no 
tongue can count them, yet it is good to think of 
them, and thus to make the heart overflow with 
gratitude. 

His bounty is without limits : he blesseth each 
and all of his creatures, first by granting them 
existence, and afterwards by sustaining it. How 
great was his goodness in giving life to such 
countless multitudes of beings, and in making 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 67 

that existence happy ! How wisely and benevo- 
lently hath he suited them one to another, so that 
they should supply their mutual wants, and con- 
tribute to their mutual enjoyment ! Man resem- 
bles the creatures below him in the possession of 
these blessings ; but he is likewise gifted with a 
mind iri some measure capable of understand- 
ing and appreciating the perfections of his Ma- 
ker ; a mind formed, not like the body, to live its 
day of enjoyment and then perish, but to en- 
dure forever. God has also granted to man the 
knowledge which is able to make him wise unto 
salvation, the knowledge of a future state of hap- 
piness, and of the means of entering into it. 
These are the inestimable blessings which he 
has granted to his creatures at large. Now let 
me consider what I, individually, owe to his 
goodness. 

When I first entered the world, I was a help- 
less infant, entirely dependent on the care of 
others for the continuance of existence. God 
had provided for it by implanting strong parens! 
affection in the hearts of those to whom he coi - 
signed me, and who were prompted by that affec- 
tion to guard me from danger, to nourish me 
with convenient food, to clothe me, to nurse me in 
sickness, to watch continually for my good, whea 
one moment's intermission of care, one single 



68 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES, 

instance of forgetfulness, might have been fatal 
to me. When I had advanced a stage in exist- 
ence, when the first dawnings of mind appeared, 
when I began to claim a place in the ranks of 
rational beings, my parents, appointed by God to 
the task, assisted to unfold my faculties, carefully 
tended my growing reason, watered the young 
plant with the dews of instruction, and fostered 
it with the sunshine of parental love. By the 
care of my heavenly Father I was preserved in 
the most helpless period of my life, and his care 
did not then cease. By that tender care has my 
body been preserved in health, and my mind, 
which he endowed with such various powers, 
also been provided for. My desire of knowledge 
has been gratified by stores of wisdom being 
placed in my power : my benevolent affections 
have found objects on which to exercise them- 
selves ; for I am surrounded by those whom I 
love, and who love me : my reason has found 
employment in contemplating those works of 
God by which I am encompassed, and my imagi- 
nation, in striving to gain some knowledge of 
those which are in part beyond my reach. There 
is exercise for memory, in recalling, as I am now 
doing, the past mercies of my God ; and for 
hope, in joyfully looking for a future renewal of 
them. And for those lofty and sublime affec- 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 69 

tions, which can find no fit object on earth ; for 
that adoration of perfection, that aspiring after 
something nobler and better than is to be found 
among men, there is an object higher than imagi- 
nation can soar, more sublime than the utmost 
stretch of reason can comprehend, more perfect 
than the heart of man can conceive, deserving 
more love than my warmest affection can offer — 
God, as revealed in his word. By this blessed 
revelation, I am enabled to enjoy yet more my 
earthly portion of happiness, and to lay up for 
myself treasures which shall endure when time 
shall be no more. By this blessed revelation, 
mortal life increases in importance, being 
declared a state of preparation for an eter- 
nal existence. By this blessed revelation, I am 
furnished with a perfect example of holiness, by 
imitating which, I may obtain the inestimable 
rewards promised to the righteous. By this 
blessed revelation, sorrow and death, otherwise 
to be so much dreaded, take their place among 
the number of mercies with which I am favored ; 
the one prompting me to seek after a better coun- 
try, that is, an heavenly ; and the other being the 
entrance through which I may gain admittance 
into that better country. By this blessed revela- 
tion, I learn that if I pass through life, its trials 
of prosperity and adversity, its snares, tempta- 



70 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES, 

tions, and dangers, taking God's word for my 
guide and his will for my law, I shall dwell for- 
ever in his presence, continually in a state of 
improvement, continually approximating to the 
divine nature, continually increasing my capaci- 
ties for enjoyment, by gratifying my noblest 
desires. 

Blessed be God, for his unspeakable mercy in 
granting such a revelation ! O may I never for- 
get the gratitude which I owe to his love ! Let 
me fulfil his gracious intentions, which would 
make me happy forever. Let me glorify the 
name of the giver of all good, by an implicit 
obedience to his word, and by striving myself, 
and leading others to seek for that immortal- 
ity which is the crowning gift of his mercy. 
Though all other blessings were withdrawn, 
though life and the promise of immortality alone 
remained, yet should my grateful praises ascend 
to his throne, for his undeserved goodness ; and 
yet would the best services a mortal creature can 
pay, be owing to my God. 

Let me now kneel before him, and offer him 
the thanksgivings of a heart penetrated with a 
sense of his mercy, and humbly desiring to be- 
come worthy of his favor. 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. V< 

PRAYER. 

THURSDAY MORNING, f 

O God of all mercy ! whose goodness filleth 
the whole earth, who hast created all that exists, 
how inexhaustible is thy bounty, how unwearied 
thy benevolence ! The sun which thou hast 
placed on high to rule the day, and the moon to 
shine by night, the stars also which thou hast or- 
dained, show forth thy praise. The earth, with 
her mountains and valleys, her forests and rivers, 
and all else that thy hand hath made, praiseth 
thee. Thou givest the seed-time and harvest, 
when thou scatterest the blessings ot pi a: tj, and 
the little hills rejoice on every side. Thou also 
givest the rain and hail, snow and vapor, and 
stormy winds, fulfilling thy word, that the stores 
of the earth may be preserved, and that, when 
the spring returneth, she may bring forth her 
fruits again abundantly, and make glad the heart 
of man. Thou givest the light of day, that thy 
creatures may enjoy all these things ; and thou 
hast ordained night, that they may obtain re- 
freshment and repose under thy guardian care. 
How innumerable are the beings that taste of 
thy bounty ! The birds of the air, the fishes 



72 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

the sea, and all that passeth through the paths 
of the seas, the beasts and creeping things that 
dwell upon the earth, and Man, whom thou hast 
made a little lower than the angels, all wait upon 
thee, and thou givest them their meat in due sea- 
son ; thou openest thine hand, and satishest the 
desire of every living thing. 

But to thy rational creatures thou art most 
plenteous in mercy. Thou teachest them to 
know thee, and how to please thee; thou hast 
offered to conduct them to a better life even than 
this : and when they ungratefully forget thee, 
and disobey thy commands, thou dost merciful- 
ly forgive them, and receive them to thy favor, 
if they repent and return to thy ways. O may I 
never stray ! May the love which thy goodness 
inspires keep me in thy fear, and lead me in 
peace and thankfulness to surrender my whole 
heart unto thee. May I indulge no affections 
which are incompatible with love to thee ; may I 
obey no command but thine ; may I indulge no 
inclinations which are impure in thy sight. 

Hear my prayer, O Lord ! which I offer with 
a sincere and thankful heart. Grant me, in this 
world, the knowledge of triy truth, and in the 
world to come, life everlasting. To thee be all 
honor and praise forever. Amen. 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 73 

REFLECTION. * 

THURSDAY EVENING. 



" Judge not, that ye be not judged." Matt. vii. 1. 

" But why dost thou judge thy brother ? Or why dost thou set at 
nought thy brother ? For we shall all stand before the judg- 
ment-seat of Christ." Rom. xiv. 10. 



When I exercise the duty of self-examination, 
how difficult do I find it to employ my whole 
mind in the act ; how unwilling am I to blame 
my own faults, and how ready to exalt my own 
virtues ! Or if I cannot acquit myself of blame, 
how great is my inclination to palliate what is 
wrong, how superficial my examination into mo- 
tives ! But very different is my judgment on the 
conduct of others. Whether 1 am called on to 
judge them or not, I am too ready to ascribe bad 
motives, and to put the worst construction on ac- 
tions of which it is not in my power to judge. 
But I need only consider how often my own ac- 
tions have been misinterpreted, to be assured 
that the power of judging is possessed by few. 
Would that as few possessed the inclination ! 
Perhaps nothing is more difficult to comprehend, 
few things are more inaccessible to examination, 
than the human mind. None but those who 
7 



74 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

have deeply studied it can be aware of its intri- 
cacy. Few can search it to the bottom; and 
those few modestly shrink from the task of ex- 
ploring the minds of other men, finding it diffi- 
cult enough to obtain any accurate knowledge of 
their own. They know how many motives often 
combine to prompt to an action ; and who but 
the Searcher of hearts shall say which are good, 
and which are evil ? I have often been blamed 
for actions which proceeded from a right motive, 
and praised for good qualities, which constitu- 
tion, early education, or other circumstances, 
have made easy in the exercise, and which 
therefore merit little commendation. If the 
judgment of others is thus imperfect with re- 
spect to myself, is it not probable that mine will 
be likewise mistaken ? 

If I did possess the power of judging others, what 
right have I to do it 1 Even if I could see into 
their minds, discern the intricate workings of 
their hearts, feel the influence of circumstances 
as they do, be subject to the same temptations, 
and thus be enabled to judge, how should I be 
authorized to do so ? Is there any command 
which bids us pry into each other's actions, and 
instead of endeavoring to reclaim the sinner, or 
to improve the faulty, confirm them in their evil 
habits by exposing them, and thus blunting the 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 75 

edge of shame ? Hath not God rather said, by 
the mouth of his servants, " Thou shalt love thy 
neighbor as thyself:" " Love worketh no ill to 
his neighbor :" " Be kindly affectioned one to an- 
other, with brotherly love?" Hath he not also 
threatened punishment to " backbiters," and 
those " full of malignity V 9 And surely it is 
malignity, instead of considering every man as a 
brother, to expose his sins to public observation, 
to exult, as it were, over his fallen virtue, and to 
impede his return to the right way, by setting 
the hearts of men against him. 

Though I may not have reason to accuse my- 
self of this sin in so great a degree as this, have 
I not practised it under an appearance less re- 
volting ? Do I not sometimes make the faults or 
infirmities of my neighbor the subject of my 
conversation ? Do not blemishes occasioned by 
defective education, or singularities caused by 
circumstances of which I know nothing, some- 
times afford subjects for invective, or at least for 
ridicule ? And how do I know that, by so do- 
ing, I am not worthy of greater blame than those 
I am thus injuring? I certainly know that I am 
not yielding obedience to the commandment of 
Jesus, to love one another. I am not exercising 
that spirit of forgiveness, which I daily pray may 



76 DEVOTIONAL EXEHCISE8. 

be exercised towards myself. I am not doing to 
others as I would they should do unto me. 

How should compassion be exerted if not on 
those who are subject to the greatest of evils — 
Sin ? I am ready to compassionate the sorrow- 
ful, to assist and relieve them if possible, and at 
least to grieve with them. Similar should be my 
feelings towards those who are suffering under 
the tyranny of sin. I should warn them of guilt 
and danger. I should by reproof, by exhortation, 
by persuasion, by every means in my power, re- 
call the sinner from the error of his ways. I 
should hold out a friendly hand to guide and as- 
sist his feeble steps ; or, where I am not able to 
do this, I should be silent concerning him, that I 
may at least throw no impediment in the way of 
his return. Such is the forbearance I should 
wish to be extended to myself, if I should ever 
stray : such, then, be my conduct to others. Let 
me remember how the holy Jesus, the Son of 
God, pardoned and encouraged the sinful on re- 
pentance ; how he won them back to virtue, by 
first mildly rebuking their sins, and afterwards 
remembering them no more. Let me keep in 
mind the noble apostle's declaration, that he was 
all things to all men ; that, by making allowance 
for their prejudices, by overlooking their weak- 



DEYOTIONAL EXERCISES. 77 

nesses, and not exposing their errors, he might 
by all means save some, Let these be my exam- 
ples ; as in all other things, so in this. Christian 
Charity exhorts me to it : that Charity described 
by the apostle, over whose heart she exerted such 
influence. Charity sufTereth long, and is kind. 
Unprovoked by injuries, envying not the prosper- 
ity of the wicked, she silently walks the earth, 
by gentleness overcoming evil, pouring the balm 
of comfort into the repentant heart, whispering 
peace in the mourner's ear, drawing a veil over 
sin, thinking no evil, rejoicing not in iniquity, 
but rejoicing in the truth ; vaunting not herself, 
and seeking not her own ; bearing all things, be- 
lieving all things, hoping all things, enduring all 
things. O ! let me be her follower forever ; for 
when prophecies shall fail, when tongues shall 
cease, when knowledge shall vanish away, when 
we shall no longer see through a glass darkly, 
but shall know even as we are known, Charity 
shall never fail. Then shall remain Faith, Hope, 

and Charity : but the greatest of these is Charity. 

7 # 



78 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

PRAYER. 

THURSDAY EVENING. 

O thou, who dwellest in the heavens, whose 
throne is among the stars, bat who yet art the 
Father of all thy creatures ! I would render un- 
to thee the homage which is due from a weak 
and sinful creature, to that Being in whom all 
perfections unite. Hallowed be thy name, O 
Lord ! for thou only art holy ; blessed be thy 
name, for thou art love ; adored be thy name, for 
thou alone art infinitely great, and wise, and 
good. May the knowledge of thy glorious per- 
fections spread over the whole earth, that all 
men may bend in homage to thee, who hast cre- 
ated, and dost still preserve them in being. May 
all live in obedience to thy laws: may all ac- 
knowledge the authority of thy gospel, that thy 
will may be done on earth, even as it is in heav- 
en ; and that all may become joint-heirs with Je- 
sus Christ, of that immortality which thou hast 
promised to those who seek it. 

Bless and preserve, I beseech thee, myself and 
those to whom I am bound by the ties of kindred 
or love, and grant us all needful good. From 
sickness, from poverty, from danger, and 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 79 

death, do thou deliver us ; for on thee only do 
we depend. In the hours of darkness, do thou 
watch over us ; and may our first thoughts when 
we awake be of thee. Continue to us the bless- 
ings we already enjoy, but render us willing to 
resign them, if thou, who didst bestow them, 
shouldst see fit to resume thy gifts. 

I acknowledge with deep sorrow that I have 
not been worthy of thy past goodness, but, mer- 
ciful Father ! pardon my transgressions. Look 
with compassion on my frailty, and teach me, 
who am so erring, to forgive and pity those who 
may in any way have injured me. May I re- 
member him who was despised and rejected of 
men, whose life was one of continual suffering 
from the wickedness of men, but who forgave 
their cruel injuries, and prayed for them with his 
last breath. 

May I strive to be compassionate and forgiving 
like him, and ever remember how much I need 
thy pardon for my numerous offences. Keep me, 
I beseech thee, from falling into the snares of 
sin. Strengthen me to overcome temptation, 
and to subdue all evil passions and inclinations. 
May I fear no evil but that of being unworthy 
of thy regard ; may I seek no good so earnestly 
as thy favor. May thy goodness and mercy fol- 
low me all the days of my life ; and may I so ap- 



80 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

prove myself unto thee by my conduct, while in 
this state of probation, that I may dwell with 
thee forever. 

Great as thou art, O Lord ! thou wilt hear my 
supplications and thanksgivings, if they are of- 
fered in spirit and in truth. Unto thee will my 
adoration be ever due, for thine is the kingdom, 
the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES; 81 



REFLECTION. 

FRIDAY MORNING. 

" If ye love me, ye will keep my words." John xiv. 23. 

No one can read with attention the account 
which the Gospels present of the character of 
our Saviour, without feeling a high reverence 
for one who, in a mortal state, exhibited such a 
perfect example of holiness. But this reverence 
is very apt to lead men to forget the love they al- 
so owe to him, whose every act and word was 
prompted by the purest benevolence. Do I not 
find, when I read the New Testament, that while 
I feel astonishment and awe at the dignity of his 
character, I do not always bear in mind that 
my warmest affections ought to be interest- 
ed in the narrative ? In the Son of God, en- 
dowed with supernatural power, stilling the 
storm, subduing the elements to his will, and 
speaking the awful messages of God, do I remem- 
ber the son of man, forgiving sins, pitying weak- 
nesses, weeping at the tomb of his friend, and af- 
fectionately comforting those who were shortly to 
lose him 1 In him who led captivity captive, 



82 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

and broke the bonds of death, do I remember 
him who bore our griefs, and carried our sor- 
rows, who was smitten for our transgressions, 
and by whose stripes we are healed ? How ma- 
ny motives should prompt me to the indulgence 
of gratitude and love ! For me, as well as for 
my brethren of mankind, did he lay down his 
life, that we might obtain the knowledge of his 
truth, and, by that means, life everlasting. By 
this benevolent sacrifice of all that he might 
have enjoyed on earth, I, in common with mil- 
lions more of my fellow-creatures, have the bene- 
fit of direction in difficulty, support under temp- 
tation, unfailing comfort in sorrow, a joy which, 
though I possessed all that the world could af- 
ford, would make the world's gifts worthless in 
comparison, and a hope which in health, or in 
sickness, in life, or even in death, may enable 
me to possess my soul in peace, and to rejoice 
evermore. For his Gentile disciples of all coun- 
tries, and in all ages, he offered up a benevolent 
prayer ; and surely if they seek, they shall ob- 
tain the blessings which he asked for them. If 
I feel grateful affection for those friends, who, by 
their care and kindness, have given me the 
means of improvement, of maintenance, and 
enjoyment, what love ought I not to feel for him, 
to whom, next to my Maker, I owe the most val- 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 83 

uable of all possessions and privileges! On 
earth he is no longer seen ; but his voice still ap- 
peals to me in his gospel, to follow in his steps, 
to perfect myself by his example, and to fulfil his 
benevolent intentions, by being worthy of his 
love ! And shall he speak in vain ? Shall the 
good Shepherd, with the voice of persuasion and 
gentleness, offer to lead his flock to the green 
pastures and still waters, and shall the sheep not 
hear his voice, but go astray and be lost? O 
no ! let me rather yield to his guidance, and joy- 
fully accept his protection : let me love him on 
earth, and bless his name, and then shall I be 
admitted to companionship with him in heaven, 
where he will welcome those who have followed 
him to that state of glory and happiness. Fee- 
ble as my powers may be, I can yet do some- 
thing to further his gracious designs for the good of 
mankind. I may be able to cheer, with the light 
of heavenly truth, the mind darkened by guilt, 
error, or ignorance : I may be able, while reliev- 
ing the afflicted, to point their view, in gratitude 
and confidence, to the giver of all good : I may 
lead some to the forgiveness of their sins by re- 
pentance : I may be a peace-maker between 
those whose angry passions had cherished dis- 
cord : I may excite those who suffer, to patience, 
those who fear or despond, to cheerful reliance 



84 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

on him who raiseth up all that be bowed down ; 
or at least I may glorify the gospel, by showing 
its fruits of love, joy, and peace, in my own char- 
acter. If love, joy, and peace in believing, are 
the rewards of such conduct on earth, where we 
dwell in comparative darkness, what must be the 
bliss reserved for the virtuous in the manifest 
presence of him who created all men, and of 
him who was the means of leading them to life 
eternal, and who will reward with his love those 
who have been fellow-workers with him in pro- 
moting the happiness of mankind ! Let my fer- 
vent love and reverential obedience be ever given 
to him, whom, not having seen, I love ; in whom, 
though now I see him not, yet believing, I re- 
joice, with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 



PRAYER. 

FRIDAY MORNING.^' 

O God, my heavenly Father, and my al- 
mighty Protector ! again, at the return of day, 
are my thanksgivings due unto thee for thy 
watchful care during the hours of darkness. I 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES, 85 

laid me down in peace and slept, for thou, O 
Lord, sustainedst me. I awake in health and 
vigor, and my voice shall ascend unto thee in 
praise, and my renewed powers shall be devoted 
to thy service. Without thy protection I could 
not exist, surrounded as I am with dangers 
which' I cannot avoid, and subject to evils which 
I cannot foresee. But I will fear no evils while 
thou art with me ; for thou art my shepherd, and 
I shall not want any good thing. While I dwell 
on earth, thou leadest me to the green pastures, 
and beside the still waters ; thou wilt support me 
in the dark valley of the shadow of death ; and, 
if I truly seek thee, thou wilt be in heaven my 
eternal portion and everlasting light. With 
these animating hopes and promises, I will dili- 
gently strive to keep my soul from the snares of 
sin ; and may thy grace be with me, to strength- 
en my virtuous resolutions, to invigorate my holy 
desires, and to render my heart a worthy temple 
for thee to dwell in. While I reflect with grati- 
tude on the rewards thou hast promised to obedi- 
ence, may the awful threatenings of the gospel 
against sin make a deep impression on my soul. 
May I welcome all thy dispensations which may 
lead me from guilt, however painful they may be. 
May I remember that thy chasten ings are design- 
ed to render me more worthy of thy love : and 
8 



86 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

may this reflection lead me to bow myself to the 
stroke of sorrow, with perfect acquiescence in 
thy will. In the present season of youth, while 
my body and mind are in all their vigor, may I 
above all things fear to displease thee. While I 
am entering on the gay scenes of a beautiful 
world, may the words of my mouth and the med- 
itations of my heart be such as thou wilt ap- 
prove ; and when these gay scenes no longer 
charm, when pain and sickness assail me, do 
thou, O Lord, support and cheer me unto the 
end. 

I offer these prayers for ail thy children of 
mankind, as for myself. May the same hopes, 
the same consolations, be the portion of all ; may 
all acknowledge thee as the universal Father, 
and Jesus Christ as the messenger of good ti- 
dings, and by his exalted virtues worthy of our 
warmest love, unceasing gratitude, and reveren- 
tial obedience. 

Merciful Father ! I will trust in thy continued 
protection ; and desire, now and forever, to as- 
cribe unto thee supreme honors and everlasting 
praises. Amen. 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 87 

REFLECTION. 

FRIDAY EVENING. 

" In my Father's house are many mansions : if it were not so, I 
would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you : and if I 
go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive 
you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also." — 
John xiv. 2, 3. 

" Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day 
and night in his temple : and he that sitteth on the throne shall 
dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst 
any more ; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed 
them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters : 
and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." — Rev. vii. 
15—17. 

It is natural for those who believe the promise 
of a future state of existence, to desire to learn 
as much as possible of what they are to expect 
in that state. They must wish to form some defi- 
nite idea of the happiness to be enjoyed by the 
righteous, and the punishment to be inflicted on 
the sinful. In the holy volume which contains 
the promises of immortality, little is said which 
can satisfy this natural desire ; probably because 
the subject is too high for our comprehension, 
too vast for our imagination, while in this imper- 
fect state of being. But it is right to meditate 
on the little information we can obtain, to famil- 



88 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

iarize our minds with the thoughts of heavenly 
things, that we may prevent their being fixed on 
the things of this world ; and because it is fre- 
quently necessary in times of temptation, when 
the exercise of duty is difficult, to call in the aid 
of future hopes and fears. Indeed it is difficult 
for men to avoid thinking on a subject which is 
so nearly connected with every thing most im- 
portant to them. Though they should be as 
careful as possible not to make their own inter- 
est, even the highest interest, a motive for the 
practice of virtue, yet it is necessary, at least in 
the beginning of the race, to think of the prize 
which is set before them, that if the feet should 
slide, if the strength should fail, if the virtuous 
efforts should be slackened, and heavenly ardor 
grow cold, the thoughts of the high reward 
promised to the righteous may inspire them with 
fresh vigor to press towards the mark. For this 
purpose there seems to be no reason why each 
one should not form what ideas are most agreea- 
ble to him, on the subject of the nature of the 
future happiness of the righteous, as long as his 
opinions are not inconsistent with scripture dec- 
larations concerning it. 

As by these declarations I learn that holiness 
is the only qualification which will admit me into 
those happy regions, and as I know that even on 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES, 89 

earth the pleasures arising from its exercise are 
greater and more enduring than any others, I 
must conclude that the happiness of immortality 
consists principally in the nobler and more unim- 
peded exercise of virtue, and especially in the 
full employment, in the manifest presence of 
God, of the highest affections with which man is 
endowed. Here, however heartfelt may be the 
reverence of him, however warm and pure the 
sentiments of devotion may be, however dili- 
gent may be the efforts to keep him in all the 
thoughts, yet the things of this world will some- 
times intrude to shut him from our view. But 
we are told that, in heaven, God will be an ever- 
lasting light unto his people ; that he shall be 
with them, and shall be their God ; that those 
who are one in Jesus, shall be one in him also. 
This must be the principal source of happiness ; 
happiness pure as his holiness, stable as his 
throne, eternal as himself. This happiness must 
include in it all arising from the exercise of vir- 
tue ; for none but the righteous can thus dwell 
with him, in whose sight the wicked shall not 
stand, or of him who died that he might redeem 
us from all iniquity, and who promised to his 
faithful followers that where he is, there they 
shall be also. O, what a transporting prospect 
to the believer, in the midst of toils, temptations, 
8* 



90 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

and dangers, to contemplate that state where the 
dead who die in the Lord shall rest from their la- 
bors ; where the wicked cease from troubling, 
and the weary are at rest ; where he who was 
tempted like unto us, will have subdued all evil, 
even death itself; for he shall put all things un- 
der his feet, shall stand at the right hand of God, 
and forever receive the grateful love of those 
whom he hath rescued from the power of sin, 
and brought into that happy kingdom ! 

There faith shall be recompensed ; there hope 
shall give place to certainty ; but there love shall 
find its noblest employment in communion with 
the spirits of the just, each increasing the happi- 
ness of the others, by unimpeded interchange of 
thought, by entire sympathy, by boundless love, 
resembling the delights of virtuous friendship on 
earth, but as much exceeding them as heaven is 
greater than earth. There may the desires of 
knowledge be gratified ; for then shall the veil 
be withdrawn which conceals from mortal eyes 
the mysteries of heaven ; then shall the dealings 
of God's providence be clearly revealed ; there 
shall we no longer know in part, but shall know 
even as we are known. There shall memory 
dwell with tender delight on the past scenes of 
mortal life ; shall rejoice in past sufferings ; shall 
he grateful for past trials ; and anticipation shall 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 91 

look forward to endless ages of still increasing 
happiness, of still improving virtue, of still near- 
er approximation to the divine nature. With 
such transporting hopes and glorious promises to 
the righteous, however I may be exposed to 
earthly sorrow, I should possess my soul in pa- 
tience, should yield myself up to the guidance 
of Religion, who will lead my feet into the way 
of peace, will roll away the clouds from the dark 
valley of the shadow of death, now visited by 
the day-spring from on high, and will disclose to 
my view the glories of that heavenly kingdom 
which I am called to inherit. 

I know not how soon I may be taken from my 
earthly pilgrimage; how near may be my ap- 
proach to the grave ; but if prepared by the fre- 
quent contemplation of divine things, I shall be 
ready at any moment to quit my earthly abode, 
hoping that w r hen the heavens and earth shall 
have been dissolved, when the glory of the sun, 
the glory of the moon, and the glory of the stars, 
shall have passed away ; when terrestrial shall 
have given way to celestial glory ; when the body 
that is sown in corruption, shall be raised in in- 
corruption ; when that which is sown in dishon- 
or, shall be raised in glory ; when that which is 
sown in weakness, shall be raised in power; 
when that which is sown a natural body, shall be 



92 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

raised a spiritual body ; when death is swallowed 
up in victory ; I may join with an innumerable 
company of angels, with the general assembly 
and church of the first-born, with the spirits of 
just men made perfect, and with Jesus the Medi- 
ator of the New Covenant, in saying with one 
voice, " Alleluia ! for the Lord God Omnipotent 
reigneth." 



PRAYER. 

FRIDAY EVENING. (^ 

O Lord God Almighty ! to whom only honor 
and glory are due, may my humble tribute of 
thanks and praises be acceptable in thy sight. 
How continually renewed are thy mercies, and 
how unceasing thy care for thy earthly offspring ! 
Every morning I awake, blessed by thy bounty ; 
every evening I lay me down, and sleep in peace, 
guarded from fear, evil, and danger, by thy protec- 
tion. O may each day be spent in thy service ; 
and whenever I retire to rest, may it be with the 
peaceful consciousness of having advanced in 
the Christian course, and risen in thy favor. 



DEYOTIGNAL EXERCISES, 93 

May I remember that each time when I address 
my prayers to thee, I have advanced nearer to 
the end of life, and to the hour of judgment : 
and may this remembrance quicken my dili- 
gence, and inspire me with fresh desires to work 
the work thou hast given me to do, while it is yet 
day, that, when the night of death shall overtake 
me, I may be prepared to await the awful judg- 
ment into which all my deeds shall be brought, 
whether they be good or whether they be evil. 
May I reflect continually on the duties I must 
perform. May my sense of thy presence, lead- 
ing me to watchfulness against evil, my respect, 
love, and charity to those who surround me, my 
diligent endeavors to improve in all useful ac- 
quirements, testify unto thee my sincere desire to 
become worthy of thy favor. Do thou, O Lord ! 
watch over me, I entreat thee ; pour into my 
mind the light of thy truth ; encourage my virtu- 
ous endeavors ; and enable me to avoid that 
which is evil. Thou knowest that I desire holi- 
ness above all things ; do thou, then, I beseech 
thee, lead me to be holy like unto my blessed 
Saviour. May I repine at no means that thou 
mayst appoint for this end. If affliction shall 
weigh heavily upon me, may it be sanctified unto 
me by rendering my heart purer and better. 
May I thus be prepared for that happy state, the 



94 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

glories of which it is good to contemplate. O 
may I be admitted into that everlasting kingdom. 
May I cherish love to thee and to my fellow- 
creatures, believing that the indulgence of these 
affections will form my happiness in heaven. 
May my views ever be turned towards the end 
of life ; and may I watch, knowing not the day 
and the hour when I may be called out of this 
world. 

I humbly ask these things, O God ! trusting 
that thou wilt grant those which are good, and 
withhold those which will be hurtful : and, with 
full and cheering confidence in thy mercy, I as- 
cribe unto thee all glory, honor, and praise, for- 
ever. Amen. 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 95 



REFLECTION. 

SATURDAY MORNING. 

ie Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high- 
minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, 
who giveth us all things richly to enjoy." 1 Tim. vi. 17. 

" Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all 
these things shall be added unto you." Matt. xiv. 33. 

How common is it for men to speak of the un- 
certainty of all worldly possessions and pleasures ; 
and indeed it would be difficult for them to avoid 
being convinced of this truth, while so many in- 
stances occur under the observation of every one. 
Yet who would suppose, from the conduct of most 
men, that such is their conviction 1 Who would 
think that the same beings who eagerly strive to 
obtain wealth, pleasures, or worldly honors, were 
aware of their transitory nature ? Even those 
who seek after better things, also, are liable to the 
same folly. Young as I am, I can perceive the 
instability of all that belongs to this world, and 
the necessity of providing for myself a future 
store of happiness, if I wish to enjoy it perma- 
nently. The young are very apt to rely on the 
continuance of present comforts; and to for- 
get, because they now possess them, that they 



96 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

ever may feel their loss. But I have been 
warned against this delusion ; and, to impress 
the warning more forcibly on my mind, let me 
consider the value of these blessings, and the 
probability of their continuance. 

Life itself is the greatest of all blessings, and 
the means by which we enjoy all others. It has 
been given to me with the hope of spending it 
happily here, and to all eternity. But how are 
these purposes to be answered ? Not by grasp- 
ing the unsatisfactory pleasures which we must 
forever relinquish with mortal life ; not by grati- 
fying unworthy propensities, or forgetting the 
giver of life itself. He may in a moment deprive 
me of it: while, believing that I have much goods 
laid up for many years, that very day my life 
may be required of me. I ought therefore to 
make my life subservient to obtaining salvation ; 
and to be ready willingly to resign it, whenever 
its Author shall recall his gift. 

Health is not only an important possession in 
itself, but adds great value to most others. But 
what is more uncertain ? What tenure is more 
precarious ? Those whom I see one day in full 
health, revelling in all the enjoyments of a beau- 
tiful world, happy and gay, on the next are 
stretched on the bed of pain ; the good finding 
peace in more stable pleasures ; the wicked seek- 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 97 

ing comfort, and finding none. Let me mark the 
sunken eye, the faded cheek, the agonizing coun- 
tenance, and remember that, though the grass 
withereth, and the flower fadeth, the word of the 
Lord shall stand forever ; and on that word, as on 
an unshaken rock, will I build my hope. 

Riches, we are told, " take to themselves 
wings, and fly away ;" and with them depart the 
luxuries of life, power, rank, the applause of the 
world, and also, in part, the more valuable pleasures 
of leisure, ease, and the means of doing good. 
Wealth is indeed valuable to those who estimate 
it properly ; but it is by no means necessary to hap- 
piness ; for we brought nothing into this world, and 
it is certain we can carry nothing out. It will 
be true wisdom, therefore, to make myself as in- 
dependent as possible of the external things of 
life, to know how to abound, and to suffer need ; 
to learn, in whatever state I am, therewith to be 
content. However I may be situated, let me re- 
member that they who will be rich fall into temp- 
tation and a snare ; for the love of money is the 
root of all evil, which those who covet after, err 
from the faith, and pierce themselves through with 
many sorrows. 

Fleeting and transitory as these things are, 
pleasures are to be found on earth, which may be 
cherished and enjoyed to the utmost ; as they are 
9 



9a8 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

neither displeasing to God, nor liable to end in the 
grave. Such are the delights of virtuous friend- 
ship, of companionship with the wise and good, 
of obtaining knowledge, especially that which 
may make me wise unto salvation, and of the in- 
dulgence of the benevolent affections, which will 
all probably form a part of the happiness of the 
righteous hereafter. Let such be the objects of 
my care, as I pass through life, at the same time 
enjoying with thankfulness and moderation the 
pleasures with which an indulgent Father may 
see fit to strew my path. Instead of prizing 
chiefly the mortal years, which are but as yester- 
day when it is past, as a watch in the night, as a 
sleep, as the grass which groweth up in the morn- 
ing, in the evening is cut down and wither- 
eth, let me desire the life of which there shall 
be no end. Instead of the unsatisfactory pur- 
suits of this world, let me seek after the fulness 
of joy which is in the presence of God, and the 
pleasures which are at his right hand for ever- 
more. Instead of trusting in uncertain riches, 
let me lay up for myself a treasure in the heavens, 
which faileth not. Instead of unhallowed and 
tumultuous earthly joys, let me seek after the 
peace of God which passeth all understanding, in 
which he will keep those who love him. 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 99 

PRAYER. 

SATURDAY MORNING. 

God of my life, from whom I derive my being, 
and to whom therefore I owe all gratitude and 
praise, reverence and love, again do I approach 
thy presence with deep humility, but with strong 
confidence in thy continued mercy. Amidst the 
perils of the day, and the darkness of the night, 
thy strong arm shall be my protection : in glad- 
ness, thy love shall be my chief joy ; and in sor- 
row, I will put my trust in thee. I ask not for 
riches, honor, or any of the splendid gifts of this 
world ; for thou only knowest whether they are 
good for me ; but, shouldst thou see fit to bestow 
them, may they be used to glorify thee. If thou 
givest me wealth, may it be employed in alle- 
viating the ills of poverty to the needy ; and, in- 
stead of seeking my own indulgence, may I re- 
member how the Lord Jesus said, " It is more 
blessed to give than to receive." If honor in this 
world should be mine, may I endeavor, with all 
the influence I possess, to lead men to think of 
thee, and to become faithful followers of thy Son 
Jesus Christ. Whatever be my lot, may I lay up 
a treasure in the heavens that faileth not ; that no 



100 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

changes of mortal life may destroy my hopes of 
happiness. May the continual vicissitudes of 
life teach me to fix my desires only on thee, the 
Rock of Ages. May the instances of death, sick- 
ness, and poverty, which every where surround 
me, render me grateful that thou hast continued 
to grant me the blessings of life, health, food, 
raiment, and a habitation wherein to dwell ; and 
that thou hast preserved to me the pleasures of 
intercourse with virtuous kindred and friends, 
and the means of improvement in piety and holi- 
ness. May I never forget that I must lose these 
blessings ; that I, like all thy children of man- 
kind, must descend into the tomb, and quit the 
busy scenes of life, to appear in judgment before 
thee, the all-righteous God. Oh ! when that day 
shall arrive, may I commend my soul in peace 
unto thee, as unto a faithful Creator. May no 
doubts of thy tender mercy ever disturb my 
mind; may I repent with sincerity of all my 
transgressions, and put unfailing confidence in 
the promises which thou hast revealed by thy Son 
Jesus Christ. By the example of him who, pure 
and holy himself, pitied our sorrows, and com- 
passionated our frailties, may I qualify myself for 
obtaining thy approbation : by his instructions 
may I uniformly regulate my conduct; and in 
his name, and as his disciple, may I ever, with 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 101 

sincere humility and love, ascribe unto thee all 
honor and praise, both now and for evermore. 

Amen. 



REFLECTION. 

SATURDAY EVENING. 

u The end of all things draweth near : be ye therefore sober, and 

watch unto prayer." 1 Pet. iv. 7. 
" For what is your life ? It is even as a vapor, which appeareth for 

a little time, and then vanisheth away." James iv. 14. 

No reflection is more common than that life is 
short, and that time flies fast. The virtuous, 
the sinful, the rich, the poor, the humble and 
industrious, the proud and ambitious, all com- 
plain that the portion of time allotted to them 
is too short for the fulfilment of their schemes. 
But life is made long enough, and suited to its 
important work, by a wise God and indulgent 
Father. Scarcely any portion of time would sat- 
isfy the desires of the worldly man, who, the more 
schemes he plans, the more he becomes attached 
to the world, and unwilling to leave it. He may 
not have time to secure all the wealth, honors, 
9* 



102 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

and power, which he tries to grasp ; but the hum- 
ble Christian, however short may be his term of 
existence, has time enough to secure the joys of a 
more enduring world. 

But, however sufficient the time appointed me 
on earth for the obtaining of salvation, may be, 
if properly employed, it will be short indeed, if I 
am negligent of my duties and forgetful of my 
obligations. Another week has now elapsed ; a 
portion of time in which much may be done to 
improve the mind, and forward it on its Christian 
course. Have I properly improved this important 
portion of time 1 Whatever I have done, I might 
have done more. I am conscious of having 
wasted a part of it in unprofitable thoughts and 
discourse ; in too great attention to trifling cir- 
cumstances, and in forgetfulness of my important 
destination. If the same time had been spent in 
obtaining useful knowledge, or in maturing by re- 
flection the store already possessed ; in meditat- 
ing on the will of God, and thus enabling myself 
the better to perform it ; in censuring my own 
faults, instead of those of others ; in raising my 
desires, and subduing my unworthy inclinations ; 
in making every circumstance, however small, 
conducive to my improvement ; how great would 
have been my progress, compared with what it 
has been ! Let me lose no more of a life, short 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 103 

indeed, but yet long enough for the work I have 
to do, if I employ its smaller as well as larger 
portions conscientiously. I am now at the most 
important period of life, when virtuous habits 
must be fixed, or it will be too late ; and there- 
fore time, always valuable, is now peculiarly so ; 
for the loss of time differs from most other losses, 
in the impossibility of retrieving it. Once gone, it 
is gone forever. If I were spared to the latest 
possible hour of human existence, no length of 
life could make up for the loss of any of the valu- 
able days of youthful activity. And who can tell 
that my period of life will be long ? Who can 
tell that I may not be called from this world in a 
few months, days, or e.ven hours 1 And how 
shall I appear before my Judge, if I have wasted 
the most valuable of the many talents he has con- 
signed to my care 1 If I do not diligently im- 
prove every hour, this must be my fearful reflec- 
tion whenever I am about to leave this world. I 
know that no knowledge or device is found in the 
grave ; that, as I die, so I must appear before 
God; and I ought already to have advanced far 
in that holiness which should enable me to pre- 
sent myself, as I am commanded, spotless and 
unrebukable in his sight. I have long been 
taught what is my duty to God, what he requires 



104 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

of me, and what I have to expect from him, 
Possessing this knowledge, and being favored 
with so many means of improvement to myself 
and usefulness to others, let me not pass my days 
in the gratification of unworthy desires, which 
which will soon cease to afford pleasure, and will 
leave behind nothing but regret and mortification. 
Let me rather yield the reasonable service of my 
powers to the God who gave them ; let me now, 
while it is in my power to form my tastes, and to 
institute good habits, have continually in view the 
purpose for which I was created ; let me educate 
myself for that endless state of existence which is 
placed in my view ; let me encourage on earth 
the desires whose gratification will form my hap- 
piness in heaven. Let me in life strive to make 
every thought, word, and deed, an act of devotion, 
from the motives which influence me : while truly 
meek and humble, let my light so shine before 
men, that, seeing my good deeds, they may glori- 
fy their Father in heaven. Thus shall I pass 
through the changing scenes of life, whether 
prosperous or adverse, possessing an inward peace 
which passeth all understanding, undisturbed by 
apprehension or remorse : thus shall I tranquilly 
await the stroke of death, prepared for its ap- 
proach, whether it arrive early or late ; seeing no 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 105 

horrors in the darkness of the tomb, and not 
fearing to enter the eternal world which shall af- 
terwards be revealed. 

Further than this it is not permitted for mortal 
view to penetrate into the mysteries of heaven : 
but I know that happiness, greater than eye hath 
seen, or ear heard, or than it hath entered into 
the heart of man to conceive, is reserved for those 
who, by patient continuance in well doing, seek 
for glory, honor, and immortality. 



PRAYER. 

SATURDAY EVENING. 

O thou great and glorious Being ! in whom our 
life is, and whose are all our ways, thou art from 
everlasting to everlasting, and shalt never change. 
From thee I have derived my being, and unto 
thee, therefore, is the tribute of my adoration 
due. 

Once more have I been preserved during the 
week, and again am I permitted to look forward 
to the pleasures of the day of rest. I thank thee, 
O Lord, for all thy goodness ; and especially that 



106 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 

I have been blest with the glad tidings of salva- 
tion. By them am I enabled to surmount temp- 
tation, to endure sorrow with cheerfulness, to 
taste the delights of gratitude when in the enjoy- 
ment of prosperity, and amidst all the changes 
of life to look forward to a state of uninterrupted 
happiness. As week after week of my mortal 
life passeth away, may I become more and more 
fitted for that eternal existence on which I 
must soon enter. May I waste none of the hours 
which thou hast given me to prepare for judg- 
ment : may I never forget that thou requirest me 
to become holy, just, and good ; not loving the 
vain things of this world, but desiring chiefly to 
please and glorify thee. I know that all who 
diligently seek thee may find thy support and fa- 
vor at all times on earth, and may dwell in thy 
manifest presence in heaven. O Lord ! enable 
me to prepare myself to appear before thee, 
whether I be taken early or late from my mortal 
pilgrimage. If but a short time yet remaineth to 
me, may I purify my heart, and exalt my affec- 
tions, so that I may not fear to enter on another 
state of being. If many months and years are 
allotted me in this life, may I diligently labor, as 
long as I live, to please thee. May no long pos- 
session of worldly happiness make me unmindful 
of thee, the giver of all good ; but may I be a 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 107 

worthy instrument of thy benevolence, in pro- 
moting the best interests of mankind. 

I pray for myself, and all whom I love, that 
thou wilt continue unto us the same gracious pro- 
tection which hath hitherto guarded us from evil. 
May we sleep in peace this night, and arise in the 
morning prepared to spend the holy day so as to 
nourish and strengthen our hearts in all pious 
and benevolent dispositions. May we ever put 
our confidence in thee alone, the universal 
Father ; and may thy best blessings be the por- 
tion of all thy children of mankind. May the 
glad tidings of salvation be universally diffused 
and gratefully received. May thy will at length 
be done on earth, as it is in heaven ; and when 
this world and the things of it shall have passed 
away, may the countless millions of beings, who 
by thy mercy shall have become heirs of eternal 
life, surround thy throne, praising thee, their 
Creator, God, and Father, forever and ever. 
Amen. 



108 



A GUIDE 



TO THE 



STUDY OF THE SCRIPTURES. 



Among the multitude of Bible readers in this 
Christian country, it is a rare thing to meet with 
one who is well acquainted with the holy scrip- 
tures. There are many who can quote texts in 
support of their religious opinions ; many who 
can relate parables to children ; many who can 
instruct those around them in the moral teachings 
of the messengers of God ; and very many, no 
doubt, who can at any time call to mind passages 
which carry in them reproof of sin, encouragement 
to virtuous efforts, and consolation under sick- 
ness and sorrow. Many children learn out of 
the Bible from day to day; their parents listen 
from week to week to what is read or expounded 
in places of worship; and the aged are often 
seen poring over the holy book in the intervals of 
their daily employments, and heard to repeat fa- 
vorite passages out of it when eye-sight fails, or 



STUDY OF THE SCRIPTURES. 109 

during sleepless portions of the night. Yet 
among all these there may be little real knowl- 
edge of the volume so much studied ; and that 
there actually is little knowledge is proved by the 
difficulty of finding any persons but those who 
have been bred to theology as a profession who 
can give any clear account of what the Bible is, 
who wrote it, for what purpose the various parts 
were prepared, at what times they were written, 
what is the comparative value of different por- 
tions, what makes some passages obscure and 
others strange, and all extremely unlike any other 
book commonly read. 

If the teachers of a large school, in some place 
where Christianity had never been heard of, were 
anxious to provide instruction for their pupils, 
and thought that the Greeks were the wisest peo- 
ple that ever lived, and their books the most val- 
uable that could be collected ; if they according- 
ly set about collecting all that they could get hold 
of that was written by Greeks, and for the sake 
of convenience bound up the whole in one vol- 
ume, that volume would be somewhat like our 
Bible. The most valuable part of it would be the 
history of the life and death of Socrates, accom- 
panied by accounts of his lectures, and private 
teachings, and familiar conversations. There 
would be besides a pretty full account of his prin- 
10 



110 A GUIDE TO THE 

cipal followers, and the letters they wrote on the 
subject of Socrates, and reports of their methods 
of learning during his life, and of teaching after 
his death. There would also be accounts of 
other instructers who had lived at various periods 
before him. There would be several histories of 
Greece in different ages, and in the different cir- 
cumstances through which its inhabitants had 
passed ; at one time they might appear a na- 
tion of barbarians, at another of heroes and phi- 
losophers ; they would have one kind of govern- 
ment in one age, and another in another ; now 
they would appear as conquerors in war and 
princes in peace, and now overcome, and oppress- 
ed, and humbled. Mingled with these different 
histories, there would be poems, some long, some 
short ; epic poems, hymns, songs, and fables. 
They would contain traditions about the origin 
of the Grecian empire, narratives, some true and 
some fictitious, about good and bad men, tri- 
umphal verses to celebrate victories, and lamen- 
tations for defeat. Now, if the children in this, 
school had such a book put into their hands, with 
no further explanation than that they were to 
study it diligently, and learn as much out of it as 
they could, they might read it all their lives, and 
get but a very imperfect notion of what it really 
was. They would not know what happened at 



STUDY OF THE SCRIPTURES. Ill 

one time and what at another, how many of the 
events related really took place, and where, and 
why. They might store their memories with 
beautiful tales, or take to heart much valuable 
instruction, and follow the advice of Socrates as 
much as they could ; but they would be much 
perplexed at little things at every page, and might 
make tremendous mistakes about matters of 
more consequence, for want of information which 
ought to have been given them from the begin- 
ning, or which they should have been put in the 
way of finding for themselves. There would be 
little use in telling them that they might discover 
all they wanted to learn in the book itself, unless 
they were shown how. They would not know 
where to begin or how to proceed. But if any 
person should once give them a hint to try to find 
out how long Socrates lived, how many years in 
private, and how many as a public teacher ; if 
any one brought a map into the school, and 
pointed out the boundaries of the Grecian empire 
in different ages, and where the various philoso- 
phers were born, and how far they travelled ; on 
what mountains armies were collected : on what 
plains battles were fought ; if another teacher 
displayed pictures of the temples where the phi- 
losophers taught, and the gardens where they re- 
posed themselves ; if another instructed the pupils 



112 A GUIDE TO THE 

how to distinguish poetry from prose, fable from 
history ; if another produced annals of different 
countries in order to compare dates and events, 
and find out how long the Grecian empire lasted, 
— the whole school would be in the way to under- 
stand what they were studying, to keep clear of 
mistakes, and to profit duly by the contents of 
each portion of the volume. Many who had be- 
come tired of hearing particular parts read very 
often, would now find that there was much more 
in these very parts than they had been aware of. 
Many who had found it a dull duty to spend half 
an hour a day in reading this book, beginning 
any where as it might happen to open, would now 
enjoy hour after hour of study ; comparing one 
part with another when they had a point to make 
out, finding some beautiful meaning in what had 
before been a mere jumble of words ; and per- 
ceiving the reasonableness of many instructions 
which had once appeared wrong or absurd. 

The case of our Bible readers is very like that 
of the pupils of this supposed school ; but worse, 
inasmuch as that which they lose is of greater 
value than any thing which may be overlooked in 
Grecian philosophy or morals. Moreover, the 
Bible readers are less in the way of discovering 
their own confusion of ideas and consequent 
ignorance, from there being a large mixture of 



STUDY OF THE SCRIPTURES. 113 

superstition in that ignorance. The more impor- 
tant the study is to them, and the more sacred its 
subject, the less willing are they to regard it in 
the same light with other studies, and the greater 
is their fear of deviating from old methods of 
reading the scriptures. All, however, who are dis- 
contented with their present state of Bible knowl- 
edge, and distressed by their growing distaste to 
the study, may be comforted by the consideration 
that the peculiar sanctity of the scriptures affords 
a reason why they should be better instead of 
worse understood than other writings ; and that 
if true and especially appointed for our instruc- 
tion, they cannot but be more honored and be- 
loved, the more freely they are used and the more 
carefully they are investigated. If this were gen- 
erally considered, if more would cry out for 
direction in studying the Bible, instead of pri- 
vately grieving over their dislike of it; if chil- 
dren were encouraged to inquire about any thing 
which appears strange to them ; if, instead of read- 
ing a chapter daily, and seldom more, (as if the 
practice were to operate like a charm,) the 
hearty study of the volume were made a regular 
employment, our young people would understand 
the Bible better at twenty years of age than it is 
now commonly understood at sixty ; and this, not 
only in the historical and the prophetical and less 
10* 



114 A GUIDE TO THE 

obvious portions, but in those preceptive parts 
which are familiar to every one's ear, and sup- 
posed to be fully comprehended and taken to 
heart by all good Christians. 

The Sermon on the Mount, for instance, 
Children are apt to think that they have learned 
the whole of it by the time they are twelve years 
old ; and its language becomes so familiar as to 
make little impression after that time. But some 
who have held this notion as children, have found 
at thirty years old that they are only beginning 
to comprehend the full meaning of that which is 
taught in our Sunday schools, and which is, in- 
deed, food for infant piety, while it may go on to 
sustain that which is enlarged to the utmost by 
knowledge and experience. The child may com- 
prehend what meekness, mercy, purity and 
peacefulness are, and how certainly they are 
blessed ; but not many of mature age are exactly 
aware what is meant by the kingdom of heaven, 
by inheriting the earth, by being called the chil- 
dren of God. It requires much study to be sat- 
isfied what particular value there is in these 
promises, and why these virtues were selected 
and placed in their present arrangement by Jesus. 
To understand even what is meant by the com- 
parisons of salt, of lighted candles, of different 
kinds of judgments, of oaths, of raiment, of modes 
of alms-giving and of prayer, and many others, 



STUDY OF THE SCRIPTURES. 115 

requires considerable knowledge of Jewish cus- 
toms, and of the natural productions of the 
country where this sermon was delivered. A 
child's or other ignorant person's ideas of the 
purpose of Christ's instructions in this discourse, 
can scarcely fail of being generally correct, and 
its moral teachings will therefore be very valua- 
ble ; but over the whole there will be a strange- 
ness and mystery which do not belong to the sub- 
ject, being wholly the product of the reader's 
own ignorance. When he has learned that there 
are salt-rocks in Judea, of which the parts that 
are exposed to the sun lose their saltness and be- 
come useless, he will understand why the peculiar 
people were compared to this insipid salt, after 
they had parted with the pure religion with 
which they were appointed to season the world 
from corruption. When he has fully learned 
what is the Law, in distinction from the Gospel, 
he will understand how Jesus came to fulfil the 
law, and why he set up precepts of his own in 
distinction from those " of old time." When he 
has learned how charity was bestowed in Jerusa- 
lem, and where the alms-chest stood, there will 
be no mystery in what is said of a trumpet, and 
the synagogue, and the left hand not knowing 
what the right hand does. There will also seem 
nothing strange in the allusions to prayer in the 
streets, to anointing the head, and to throwing 



116 A GUIDE TO THE 

jewels before swine. He will know in what kind 
of privacy men were recommended to pray, and 
why the lilies of the field were thought to be 
more gloriously arrayed than Solomon, and how 
it was that rain as well as winds proved destructive 
to houses. Groups of persons, glimpses of land- 
scape, will rise up before his mind's eye as he 
reads, and his admiration of the beauty of the 
discourse will grow into enthusiasm before he 
reaches its close. If, moreover, he has informed 
himself of the condition of society at the time 
when Christ came ; if he knows how Jews and 
Gentiles were circumstanced with respect to each 
other before and after that period, he will discern 
a wisdom and divine benevolence in this discourse 
which will affect him with a higher awe than 
springs out of mystery ; and the somewhat pain- 
ful feeling of strangeness will give place to the 
delights of clear and vivid perception. 

Thus would it be with innumerable other pas- 
sages of the sacred writings. Not that deep and 
extensive study would be required for every one. 
If this were necessary, few could enjoy them as 
we would fain have every one enjoy them. On 
the contrary, one piece of information serves as a 
key to unlock a great number of mysteries. The 
knowledge which is necessary to a full under- 
standing of the Sermon on the Mount will ren- 
der intelligible almost the whole of what now 



STUDY OF THE SCRIPTURES. 117 

confuses a large proportion of readers, aid alarms 
others. Any portion of that knowledge will 
explain something in every book of scripture ; 
and it is knowledge which is within the reach 
of all, if they were but aware of it. 

" But how," inquires one and another, " are we 
to get at this knowledge ? We do not know how to 
begin. Our notions of the whole Bible are con- 
fused. We have gone backwards and forwards 
from the New to the Old Testament, and from 
the Old to the New, till the whole, except the life 
of Christ, is perplexed and mysterious. We un- 
derstand nothing of the Prophets, and we do not 
know the Epistles from one another. What must 
we learn first ; and where must we look for what 
we want V 9 

The first thing to be learned is what the Bible 
is ; and this may be ascertained from the Bible 
itself, together with a few helps which are within 
almost every body's reach. 

It will be seen that the Bible, with the excep- 
tion of a few chapters at the beginning of Gene- 
sis, relates to a particular nation, the Jews, who 
took their rise from Abraham. The brief history 
from the creation to the time of Abraham is a 
mere introduction to the account of the peculiar 
people who sprang from him. The place of their 
original abode, the place of their bondage in the 
time of Moses, the scene of their wanderings 



118 A GUIDE TO THE 

under his direction, of their conquests under his 
successors, and of their settlement till their final 
dispersion, may be traced upon the map, and 
ought to be well fixed in the memory, that the im- 
pression of reality may be retained amidst all that 
is afterwards read. The next step is to discover 
what the books of the Bible are, and who wrote 
them. The historical ones may be first picked 
out ; and if read with the same kind of attention 
as other histories, they will be found nearly as 
plain, and marvellously interesting. It is only 
because they are read piece-meal and confusedly 
that they are ever felt to be otherwise. It will be 
found easy to follow the course of events ; and, 
if not to count the years, to calculate, without 
much danger of mistake, how the nation proceed- 
ed from age to age ; and how long, its different 

DO? O 

forms of government lasted ; and thus to know- 
by reference to histories of other nations what the 
rest of the world was doing at the same time. 
Instead of being unable to say whether Noah or 
Esau was most of a Jew, instead of being apt to 
suppose that all the events of the Old Testament 
happened close together, and those of the New 
at some unknown distant time, the reader will be 
able to mark out the striking periods of the nar- 
rative, and to measure their distances with more 
or less of accuracy. In the history he will find 
mention of the authors of the other books, and will 






STUDY OF THE SCHIPTUHES. 119 

therefore be able to distinguish them by their va- 
rious characters, and to refer them to their proper 
periods. It has often happened that children who 
had grown tired of the well-known story of Ruth, 
have begun to take a new interest in her when 
they found out that she was the great-grandmother 
of David. Very little mystery, but much more 
interest, will belong to the Psalms, when they are 
read in connection with the narrative of the events 
to which they relate. It has strangely startled 
many unreflecting readers to find Psalms that 
they knew by heart in the middle of the books 
of Samuel ; and no less to discover what an 
active part some of the prophets took in the 
events of their times ; how they lived in courts, 
and moved among the people, and came out into 
life like real men, instead of being shrouded in 
the obscurity of their own prophecies. 

The nature of the collection of books being 
thus discovered in the course of perusal, the 
design of the whole will be easily apprehended. 
It will be seen that they constitute a record of 
revealed religion, — the poetry no less than the 
history, — the Old Testament equally with the 
New. Every book relates to the dealings of God 
with the Jews, or with others by means of the 
Jews. As revealed religion was mixed up with 
every thing that concerned the Jews; as all that 
was Jewish did, in fact, appertain to revealed 



120 A GUIDE T€ THE 

religion, the history of that people is, to all intents 
and purposes, the record of revelation ; and 
whatever throws light upon them, illustrates their 
religion and ours. 

To ascertain this, is, then, one object with 
which the scriptures may be read ; and no one 
has begun to study them to much purpose who 
has not made out, from themselves, their nature 
and their design. 

Supposing that some clear ideas of the history, 
chronology and geography of the Hebrew nation 
and their country have been obtained while pursu- 
ing the last-mentioned object, a new and interest- 
ing one may be found in discovering the meaning 
of whatever customs seem strange, and whatever 
natural productions remarkable, in Judea. These 
are things which cannot be learned entirely from 
the scriptures themselves ; but there are many 
books that teach more or less of them, and friends 
enough, it is to be hoped, near the reader who 
can satisfy his inquiries, or put him in the way of 
satisfying himself. When he has once learned a 
new circumstance, he may search for as many 
passages as it may explain. As one trifling in- 
stance ; — when he knows how it was the custom 
of the Jews to place themselves at meals, he may 
look for all the narratives in the Bible which re- 
late to what happened at such times. It may 
possibly surprise him to find how much light is 



STUDY OF THE SCRIPTURES. 121 

thrown upon obscure passages by this one piece 
of information. He will be able to imagine the 
scene when Joseph's brothers ate before him ; in 
the house of Saul when David had disappeared 
from his place ; at the feast at Can a ; in the 
abode of Simon, when one stood at the feet of 
Jesus, behind Mm, weeping ; at the supper when 
the beloved disciple lay in the bosom of Jesus; 
and on various occasions mentioned in the Acts 
when the disciples met at table. When he has 
informed himself how the worship of the syna- 
gogue was conducted, the reader will be struck 
with admiration, instead of perplexed at the ac- 
counts of whatever was done by Christ in the 
synagogues, either in the way of miracles 
or preaching. The narrative (in the fourth 
chapter of Luke) of his ministration in the syn- 
agogue at Nazareth, of his receiving the book, 
or scroll, and standing up to read, closing or roll- 
ing it up when he had read, and sitting down to 
address the worshippers ; his delivering the book 
to the " minister," and taking upon him, — stran- 
ger as he was, and not known to be authorized, — 
to preach ; — all this will be no longer incompre- 
hensible, or supposed to be a violation of the 
usual rule. The performing of miracles in 
places of worship, and what the apostles did and 
suffered on similar occasions, will appear in a 
11 



122 A GUIDE TO THE 

new light when the customs connected with the 
synagogue are understood. Much, very much 
more is made clear by what may be know r n con- 
cerning the temple ; and also respecting the 
dwellings of the Jews, their furniture and dress, 
their occupations, their administration of justice, 
their modes of celebrating births, marriages and 
funerals, &c. With this, may proceed an inqui- 
ry into the natural productions of the country. 
Previous to such an inquiry, no one would have 
an idea how much is lost by ignorance of the 
habits of the camel and the stork, the locust and 
the quail, the scorpion and the ostrich. There 
is frequent reference to perfumes and spices, to 
forest trees, shrubs and flowers, to vicissitudes of 
season and climate, on which the whole meaning 
of a saying, the entire significance of an inci- 
dent, may depend. To detect such meanings, 
to apprehend this significance, is surely an ob- 
ject which may add new interest to the study of 
sayings and incidents whose sound has long been 
familiar to the ear. 

If a yet more engrossing object is wanted, the 
reader may turn to the making out the biogra- 
phies of the personages of sacred history. The 
lives of the Old Testament personages are usual- 
ly given simply and straight-forward. There is 
little more to be made out respecting Joseph, 
Samuel, David, and others of the most interest- 



STUDY OF THE SCRIPTURES. 123 

ing actors in the narrative, than is told uninter- 
ruptedly and copiously. But in the New Testa- 
ment, where all were contemporaries, they are 
mixed up together, acting variously in the same 
set of events — travelling in distant places at the 
same time, suffering under different tyrants in 
the same persecution, and interweaving their ex- 
periences around that of him who appointed 
them their various offices. There was, of course, 
a considerable resemblance in their fortunes ; and 
some readers, perhaps, might not, if questioned, 
be able to separate the adventures of Paul from 
those of Peter, as told in the book of Acts : but 
it will be found that their experience was diversi- 
fied in proportion to the varieties of their charac- 
ters ; that they viewed and acted upon circum- 
stances differently, according as one was more 
impetuous, another more gentle, a third more 
calmly energetic, a fourth more highly educated 
and more conversant with society than his com- 
panions. To ascertain these resemblances and 
these diversities, to compare the narratives, and 
digest from the whole a series of biographies, is 
one of the most interesting occupations that can 
be imagined ; and, if done in an enlightened 
manner, will be found to open up new sources of 
evidence, and to bring down new light into the 
gospel narratives in a manner which could not 
have been foreseen. This object will not be very 



124 A GUIDE TO THE 

rapidly attained and done with. Even that life, 
to illustrate which all the others are related, 
— that life on which the most copious details are 
collected, cannot be made out satisfactorily with- 
out very close examination. The important point 
of the duration of our Lord's ministry remains, 
in the opinion of many, unsettled. The evi- 
dence on this point, as on most others of a like 
kind, is within the grasp of all who know enough 
of the succession of the seasons in Palestine, 
and of the Jewish feasts, to be able to compare 
the notices of these things in the narrative, and 
to frame a little chronology out of them. Any 
careful reader may note how often wintry storms, 
seed times and harvests, are adverted to in the 
history of Jesus, and how many feasts he attend- 
ed, and how these notices in the different evan- 
gelists may be adjusted to one another. A grad- 
ual satisfaction may thus be obtained ; and every 
established point will help to settle some point in 
another biography ; till the whole set of person- 
ages becomes distinguishable, and the whole se- 
ries of lives consistent ; instead of all being a 
burden to the memory and a perplexity to the 
understanding. 

This distinction of the biographies will lead to 
a discrimination of the writings of the scripture 
personages. The epistles will no longer be 
known from one another only by the order i*> 



STUDY OF THE SCRIPTURES. 125 

which they stand. The subject matter and style 
of each will be seen to be as unlike as the minds 
of their authors. Paul's will become distinguish- 
able at a glance, from their being as character- 
istic as his spoken words could ever have been. 
The majesty and calm energy of Peter's will ap- 
pear to form a beautiful comment on the events 
and actions of his life ; and the exquisite beauty 
of James's will be seen to be of a wholly differ- 
ent cast from that of any other scripture compo- 
sition whatever. While engaged in this process 
of discrimination, the student will find that, in- 
stead of the perusal of one chapter being irk- 
some, it will become difficult to leave an epistle 
unfinished, or, at least, to quit it till the topic 
under consideration is dismissed, however many 
breaks may occur through the arbitrary division 
into chapters. 

Such are some of the subordinate objects by 
which the reading of the scriptures may be made 
profitable and interesting : but it must ever be 
borne in mind that these are but subordinate ob- 
jects. The study itself is only a means to a 
much higher object than any of these — -the as- 
certainment of Christian doctrine and morals. 
Of the yet loftier end to which even this ascer- 
tainment is subservient, it is not our present of- 
fice to speak : but we cannot too strongly insist 
11 * 



126 A GUIDE TO THE 

on the consideration that the^ investigations we 
have recommended are but preparatory to the 
all-important research into the truth which God 
has given to be our guide through life, and the 
exponent of his will. If this is contemplated 
with due earnestness, it will be seen how inade- 
quate are the methods usually adopted for learn- 
ing Christian doctrine and morals. 

It is commonly supposed that the doctrines of 
Christianity are to be looked for in the discourses 
only of Jesus and his followers, and the morals 
of Christianity in the form of direct precepts. 
Misled by this supposition, multitudes go through 
life with those confused notions of what they are 
to believe which cannot but arise out of an adop- 
tion of human explanations of the gospel, and a 
forced application of discourses designed to be 
no more than comments on doctrine which was 
to be learned in a very different manner. The 
same is the case with Christian morals ; the com- 
mon method of studying them being to look for 
them only in the form of direct precepts. Va- 
rious, beautiful and rich as are the precepts of 
Jesus, they neither convey, nor were intended to 
convey, more than a small part of his instructions 
respecting the formation of the Christian charac- 
ter. Instead of its being enough to learn texts 
day by day, till every word recorded as spoken 
by Jesus is fixed in the memory, this practice 






STUDY OF THE SCRIPTURES. 127 

(good as far as it goes) proceeds but a very small 
way towards giving an acquaintance with those 
principles which formed the character of Christ 
to its moral perfection. To prove this, let any 
one copy out and arrange as he will, all that he 
can find said in the New Testament about the 
nature and character of God, and his purposes 
in sending Christ into the world ; and he will 
have but little that he could form into a profes- 
sion of faith. Let any one copy out and arrange 
as he will, all that he can find said in the New 
Testament respecting the duty of man, and he 
will have very scanty and imperfect materials for 
the formation of a rule of duty. Many virtues 
and many vices are not mentioned at all ; some 
are mentioned only incidentally, and there is no 
attempt at arranging them in their proper o^der. 
x411 this proves, not any deficiency in the instruc- 
tion provided for us, but only that if we look in 
the wrong direction, we shall not discover what 
we want. The wisest and best men, who could 
never learn enough of what Christianity is ap- 
pointed to teach, have found that it taught more 
than they could learn in a life-time. Instead of 
becoming weary because they could meet with 
nothing new, these men have found more that is 
new, more that is wonderful, more that is beauti- 
ful, year by year, as long as their eyes could dis- 
tinguish the sacred text, their memories retain its 



128 A GUIDE TO THE 

meaning, and their understandings ponder its 
purposes. In them, the workings of revelation 
were answerable to its design, because they un- 
derstood revelation. They knew that the doo 
trines of the gospel were to be found in the 
facts of its history, and the morals of the gospel 
in the perfect character of him who brought it. 

Before Christ came, the Jewish nation had 
been taught, by experience as well as by express 
revelation, the great doctrine of the Unity of 
God. They had found that promises and threat- 
enings made in one age were fulfilled in another ; 
that there was a consistency in the rule which 
governed them, an agreement among all the 
truths made known to them, which proved that 
the same God was over them all from age to 
age ; and that promises and threatenings made 
by their God respecting other nations were also 
fulfilled, proving that there was not a deity for 
every nation, as their heathen neighbors believed^ 
but one Jehovah who ruled all the earth. Christ 
came, not to reveal this doctrine, which was al- 
ready known, but to make it more widely known, 
and to reveal 6ne other great truth. A Future 
Life had been hitherto speculated on and hoped 
for; but it was not known with any certainty 
that there was one till Christ was raised from the 
dead. He alluded to it frequently in his dis- 
courses, and his followers afterwards enlarged 



STUDY OF THE SCRIPTURES. 129 

eloquently upon it ; but the truth was revealed in 
the manner most unquestionable and most cer- 
tain not to be misunderstood ; by Christ himself 
being made to enter on a life after death, in the 
presence of many witnesses. In this case, the 
doctrine is to be learned from the fact, and con- 
firmed by the discourses, rather than learned 
from the discourses alone. In like manner, the 
acts which he did, and the things which he suf- 
fered, teach us what his powers and his office 
were ; and the results which have followed in- 
form us what was the purpose of God in sending 
him into the world. We are glad of any light 
cast upon these subjects by the words of Jesus; 
but the facts are, and were designed to be, our 
best instructers, the sources of our most com- 
plete knowledge. The facts of the gospel are, 
then, what we must study in order to learn 
Christian doctrine. We must ascertain and rea- 
son upon all that took place, and ascertain what 
state the world was in when Christ came, and 
how his coming operated upon the world; and 
thence discover what we are to believe respect- 
ing the designs and workings of Providence in 
giving to man this new religion. 

No system of morals was ever made so perfect 
as the character of Christ. Rules which are 
written down may be misunderstood by some; 
they may not suit the circumstances of others : 



130 A GUIDE TO THE 

and they will lose much of their use and beauty 
as ages pass on, and knowledge increases, and 
men's ways of thinking and acting therefore 
change. But an example of perfect virtue con- 
tinues to teach the best lessons, age after age, to 
persons of all degrees of intelligence and good- 
ness. All children in all countries and times 
can feel the beauty of Christ's benevolence in 
feeding the hungry and healing the sick ; while 
few or none could understand or would regard 
mere rules about doing good. The holiest man 
now living may find something more to imitate 
and strive after in the character of Christ ; while 
mere precepts to be holy, just and good, might 
have ceased long ago to teach him more than he 
already practises. In like manner, the worst of 
men may be touched on hearing what Jesus un- 
derwent through the malice of the wicked, and 
how he bore his sufferings, and how he treated 
his enemies ; while the same man might turn 
away from all that was offered in the way of precept. 
As there is matter of interest to every bad man 
in the conduct and fate of Iscariot, and to every 
good man in the lives of the apostles, there is 
matter of near and dear concern to all in the 
perfect character of him who was especially of- 
fered as an example, and to whom more love and 
gratitude are due than to any one besides, except 
God who sent him. The words of Jesus, then, 



STUDY OF THE SCRIPTURES. 131 

are to be regarded as the most valuable explana- 
tions, the most beautiful comments that can be 
obtained, on our duties : but the rule of duty 
itself must be the conduct of Jesus. What he 
did in his circumstances, what he would do in 
ours, must be the rule of our actions ; and it is 
a rule which we can never have done studying. 
The wiser we grow, the more able shall we be- 
come to discern the reasons of his conduct, and 
to discover therefore new motives for our own. 
The more benevolent we grow, the more touch- 
ing will be the instances of his disinterested love 
to man, and therefore the more animating his ex- 
ample. The more pious we grow, the better 
shall we understand how he lived with God ; and 
the more able shall we become to love and trust 
and delight ourselves in his Father and our Father. 
Thus, the better we grow, the more enlarged will 
our views of duty be ; and in turn, the more en- 
larged our views, the better we shall grow ; so that 
there need be no end to what we learn from the 
gospel ; while, if we study no more than what 
Jesus said, without attending to his character, 
we shall not gather half the instruction which 
his mission was designed to afford us. 

The highest objects with which we can study 
the scriptures are now before us. We must study 
the life of Christ to learn what truth he came 
to teach us. We must study his character to 



132 STUDY OF THE SCRIPTURES. 

learn what holiness he came to teach us. Once 
fairly engaged in this study, there is little fear 
that we shall read amiss. We shall not then 
grow weary of hearing some portions, while we 
remain ignorant of others. We shall no longer 
lament the confusion of our ideas, or complain 
of the obscurity of religious truth. We shall no 
longer take up the Bible as a task, and gladly lay 
it down at the close of a prescribed portion : but, 
remembering that it contains the record of most 
that is ascertained of God, of the best that is 
known of man, and of all that nature silently 
breathes forth, we shall resort to it as to a com- 
pendium of whatever it concerns us most to 
know. We shall find how it opens its treasures 
more and more to the discerning eye and the 
teachable spirit. We shall find (to use the words 
of one* who was wont to speak eloquently of the 
value of scripture truth) that " it supplieth us 
with business of a most worthy nature and lofty 
importance ; it setteth us upon doing things 
great and noble as can be ; it engageth us to free 
our minds from all fond conceits, and cleanse 
our hearts from all corrupt affections. It putteth 
us upon the imitation of God, and aiming at the 
resemblance of his perfections ; upon obtaining 
a friendship and maintaining a correspondence 
with the High and Holy One." 
* Barrow. 



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